The government has been trying to woo both foreign and domestic investors to actively participate in nickel downstream projects to produce battery raw materials amid the expected EV boom.

While providing fiscal incentives and facilitates permitting process, the government has also promoted the implementation of environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles from upstream to downstream levels.

Indonesia is known to hold the world’s largest nickel reserves, accounting for 23.7 percent of total global reserves. The country is also the world’s largest nickel producer with Sulawesi and Halmahera being the major producing regions, followed by neighboring country the Philippines. The global nickel demand has soared following the rapid development of the global EV industry.

According to data from the Center for Geological Resources of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR), in 2019, Indonesian nickel resources were estimated at 11.78 billion tons and nickel reserves at around 4.59 billion tons.

Most of the operating nickel processing facilities in Indonesia are implementing pyrometallurgy technology, namely Rotary Kiln Electric Furnace (RKEF), which consumes massive energy to process minerals to produce nickel pig iron (NPI), ferronickel (FeNi) and nickel in matte mainly dedicated to the steelmaking industry.

Commodity research company, PT Indeks Komoditas Indonesia (IKI) in its new report said that various government incentives have accelerated the development of nickel smelters in the country, with at least 40 smelters have been built so far this year, and more than 40 new projects are expected in the future.

The report said the government has provided various incentives such as tax allowance, tax holiday, zero import tax, bonded zone facility, and assistance in land acquisition and permitting process, in a bid to accelerate the development of domestic nickel downstream industry to generate greater value from the country’s huge nickel reserves.

From only five smelters operating in 2014, the number has grown to at least 40 smelters, consisting of 36 smelters producing ferronickel or NPI, two smelters producing nickel oxide (MHP), one smelter producing nickel hydroxide, and four smelters producing nickel matte, the report said.

Indonesia Nickel Mining Association (APNI) mentioned that Indonesia, as the world’s largest nickel producer, has been in the global spotlight due to the development of the nickel-based industry. However, the country also faces three long-term major risks, namely nickel resource conservation, waste disposal and carbon emission.

The 2023 Indonesia nickel outlook conference would explore among others:

• Update on government’s grand policy, incentives on nickel industry – Nickel’s role in Energy Transition in Indonesia.
• The future of nickel battery industry -- How can Indonesia best prepare for what’s to come in EV industry?
• What to expect next in global supply and demand trend of nickel in 2023?
• Nickel pricing forecasts – what are the main triggers for nickel price in 2023?
• Project updates on domestic nickel smelters and the future production of NPI, Ferronickel and HPAL smelters in Indonesia.
• What is the future role of Indonesia in the global stainless-steel production and market

08.00–09.00	Registration
09.00–09.10	Welcome remarks from conference chairperson
09.10–09.30	Keynote Address: Government’s grand policy on nickel industry and exploring nickel’s role in energy transition in Indonesia. Keynote Speaker: Mr. Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment.
09:30-09:50	Update on potential of nickel greenfield in Indonesia – what is the prospect of low-grade laterite reserves and update of the current exploration activities. Speaker Mr. Hariyanto, Head of Center for Mineral, Coal, and Geothermal Resources.
09:50–10.30	Nickel producers’ view on demand and supply trend of nickel ore in the era of EV industry. What is the expected nickel ore demand in 2023 in Indonesia? Speaker Mrs. Meidy Katrin, Secretary General of Indonesian Nickel Miners Association (APNI).
10.10–10.30	Coffee Break & Networking Session
10.30–10.50	ESG outlook in nickel industry : How Eramet comply towards a more responsible mining practice? Speaker: Mr. Bruno Faour, President Director of PT Eramet Indonesia
10.50–11.10	Exploring the potential production of nickel intermediates from Indonesian projects to feed the battery sector. Speaker: : Mrs. Angela Durrant, Principal Analyst Metal Costs at Wood Mackenzie.
11.10–11.30	How lubricant can offer more life-longer parts of machines, when users require more reliable machines. Speaker: Mrs. Sari Rachmi, Sales and Marketing Director of PT Pertamina Lubricants. Mr. Agung Prabowo, Tech Specialist Gear, Hydraulic & Grease of PT Pertamina Lubricants
11:30–12:15	CEO panel discussion: Indonesia nickel industry outlook from miners’ perspective Where is the price of nickel expected to go next? How Indonesian stakeholders are getting ready for the EV revolution Panelists Mr. Bernardus Irmanto, Director of PT Vale Indonesia. Mr. Tonny H. Gultom, Director of Harita Nickel. Mr. Aldo Namora, Head of investment and business development of PT Ceria Nugraha Indotama (CNI) Mr. Wahyu Budhi Santoso, GM external Relations of PT. Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP)
12.15–13.00	Lunch Break & Networking Session
13:00–13:20	Exploring sustainable financing for nickel projects – Challenges and Opportunities in 2023. Speaker: Mr. K.K Ventaka, Partner at Oliver Wyman.
13:20–13:40	Nickel Processing Technology – How to reach a higher efficiency operation. Speakar: Mr Bruce Lan, General Manager of Tonghua Jianxin Science & Technology Co. Ltd.
13:40–14:00	Integrating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) for the future of nickel production. Speakar: Mr. Muchtazar, Sustainability Manager of Nickel Industries Limited.
14:00–14:20	Investing in Indonesia nickel sector - challenges and opportunities from legal perspective Speaker: Mr. Dendi Adisuryo, Partner ADCO Law
14:20–14:40	Exploring the investment opportunities in nickel downstream industry in Indonesia. Speaker: Mr. Arif Tiammar, Association of Indonesian Metallurgical Professional (APMI).
14:40-15.00	Indonesia's Road Map in Nickel Battery Industry – Opportunities and challenges Speaker: Mr Toto Nugroho Pranatyasto, President Director of Indonesia Battery Corporation (IBC)
15:00–15:20	The future of limonite ore in nickel-based Lithium Battery Chain – How to overcome the threat of nickel deficit? Speaker: Mr. Romy Ramadhani, Vice President of PT Hydrotech Metal Indonesia (HMI).
15:20–16:00	Nickel EV Battery outlook: Exploring opportunities to develop nickel downstream projects to help accelerate the EV battery ecosystem development in Indonesia Panelists: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Evvy Kartini, Founder of National Battery Research Institute (NBRI). Mr Hermawan Wijaya, Marketing Director of PT Internasional Chemical Industry.
16:00–16:20	Market review and update: What to expect next in the global supply and demand trend of nickel in 2023? Speaker: : Mr. Nikhil Shah, Principal Analyst of CRU Group
16:30–16:40	SMM Nickel Market Analysis and Annual Supply-demand Balance. Speaker: :Mrs Shirley Wang, Big Data director and nickel analyst lead at Shanghai Metals Market (SMM).
16:50	End of the conference

*Please note that this is a draft program and subject to change prior to the conference.