At the Western Australia-Indonesia Energy Forum held in Jakarta, government and industry representatives met to collaborate and discuss opportunities to support the energy transition.
Outcomes from the forum include a commitment to ongoing engagement with Australia’s Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre, which will support future collaboration in battery and critical minerals supply chains.
The forum also offers a chance for Western Australian energy delegates and Indonesian stakeholders to discuss each market’s capabilities in new and renewable energies and critical minerals.
Western Australian representatives and KADIN (Indonesian Chamber of Commerce) discussed the opportunity for the state to support Indonesia with its ambitions to be a global leader in electrical vehicle manufacturing.
It follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Western Australia and KADIN in February to support cooperation in developing a critical minerals supply chain, and promote investment and collaboration to develop value-adding critical minerals and battery industries.
With increased importance placed on securing critical minerals and battery supply chains to address climate change, the memorandum of understanding supports both Western Australia’s and Indonesia’s economic objectives.
A Plan of Action was also signed by the Premier of Western Australia, Roger Cook, with KADIN in July during the Republic of Indonesia President Joko Widodo’s visit to Australia to promote future opportunities for collaboration.
At the Forum, Mr Cook invited KADIN to visit Perth and attend Western Australia’s Green Energy Summit in November to better understand the state’s downstream battery mineral processing capabilities.
The Western Australian Government is currently leading the state’s largest overseas investment and trade mission.
The mission, led by Mr Cook, is made up of 130 Western Australian business, industry, media and government representatives, providing a platform to promote the state as a recognised and trusted partner in Indonesia.
Mr Cook said that the Western Australia-Indonesia Energy Forum presents an invaluable opportunity to discuss the decarbonisation of both local and global economies.
“Both regions are in an enviable position for energy, with Indonesia the world’s largest nickel mining and refining centre, and Western Australia the world’s largest producer of lithium,” Mr Cook said.
“I look forward to discussing further how we can seize upon these prospects for both regions.”
Western Australian Minister for Energy, Bill Johnston, said that with Western Australia’s critical minerals and rare earth resources, the state is attracting significant global interest from markets such as Indonesia to support their transition to renewable energy.
“Through meetings with our Indonesian counterparts, we are exploring opportunities to grow participation in global battery and critical mineral supply chains and further strengthen value-adding and manufacturing industries.”
