The Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) is gearing up for the electric vehicle boom with plans to establish a battery factory in Morowali, Central Sulawesi. The Managing Director of PT IMIP, Hamid Mina, confirmed the venture, noting that the investors for the project are from China. Although the investment value remains undisclosed, IMIP has allocated land for the factory construction, emphasizing the need for a carefully chosen location to avoid disturbances like dust. Hamid expressed confidence in the construction timeline, citing IMIP’s track record in completing various projects, such as a power plant (PLTU), in just 18 months.
While the specifics of the battery factory’s size are yet to be disclosed, Hamid hinted that it might initially cater to specific needs or internal use. The prospect of expansion is open if significant opportunities arise. Additionally, IMIP has caught the attention of electric vehicle giant Tesla, as the company has sourced battery raw materials from IMIP-affiliated companies. Hamid mentioned that Tesla conducted thorough checks and verification, expressing satisfaction with the IMIP area’s capabilities.
In line with the electric vehicle trend, IMIP is actively experimenting with electric trucks in collaboration with Tsingshan, a Chinese company. The trial involves 25 electric trucks temporarily imported, capable of covering 300 km on a full battery charge and requiring just 2 hours for a complete recharge. If the trial proves successful, IMIP aims to introduce 400 electric trucks with a capacity to carry loads of up to 30 tons. IMIP, a collaborative effort between Bintang Empat Group and Tsingshan Steel Group, currently manages a nickel-based industrial area producing nickel, stainless steel, and carbon steel, along with supporting industries like coal power plants, manganese, silicon, chrome, lime, coke, and more. The industrial zone is staffed by 54 companies, providing employment for 80 thousand local workers and 11 thousand Chinese workers.
Source: truth.web.id