Germany’s new government has just extended up to 9,000 Euro subsidy for the purchase of electric cars for another year in a bid to see 15 million purely electrified cars in circulation by 2030. Germany, the world’s fifth largest auto market, saw Tesla taking 2.8% market share last month, bigger than Toyota (2.6%). New factory in Berlin, scheduled this month, will likely strengthen Tesla’s position in the market.

On Friday (Dec 10), minister of industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, inaugurated commercial operation of PT Yili Indonesia Dairy’s ice cream factory in Bekasi Regency, West Java province. PT Yili Dairy Indonesia has by far invested Rp1.9 trillion out of a total plan of Rp2.5 trillion. PT Yili Indonesia Dairy claims the largest ice cream factory in the country. 

Compared to major emerging economies like China and India, Indonesia has a significantly weaker and less developed pharmaceutical industry. The country relies heavily on imported products, especially active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).

The clock is ticking to the deadline (November 29) to complete the deal. But, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), chairman of state oil and gas company Pertamina, joined the opposition to a plan from PT Indonesia Battery Corporation (IBC), where Pertamina is a member, to acquire StreetScooter, an electric vehicle subsidiary of Deutsche Post.

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo has just inaugurated commercial operation of Karalloe Dam in Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi province. The dam (40.53 million m3 of capacity) is capable to serve 7,000 hectares of plantation area in Jeneponto Regency.

Covid-19 pandemic, hopefully, teaches Indonesia an important lesson, that it should grow more domestic production of pharmaceutical products to support its 280 million population. Relying too much on import would cost lives because disruption in logistic operation during the pandemic’s restrictions in major producing countries hurt Indonesians.

Sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs), mainly battery electric vehicles (BEVs), in China, the world’s largest automotive market, surged by 135% year-on-year to 383,000 units in October 2021 whilst 9.4% downfall of the overall auto market to 2.33 million units. Major brands like Tesla, BYD, Xpeng, and Hongguang Mini all recorded impressive performance in the month.

In late March 2021, minister of state-owned enterprises Erick Thohir announced the establishment of PT Indonesia Battery Corporation (IBC), a joint venture between four state companies—-MIND ID (previously INALUM), its subsidiary Aneka Tambang (ANTM), Pertamina, and PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN). They equally own 25% shares in IBC.

Media reported that early retirement of coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) in Indonesia has been discussed at the high-level officials upon the request from president Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo and financing offer from Asia Development Bank (ADB). While it will take years, if not decades, to phase out CFPPs, coal might be available at more affordable price for the processing of coal into chemicals.