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.

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo continues to push domestic processing of raw materials currently exported, including crude palm oil (CPO), palm kernel oil (PKO), thermal coal, oil & gas, and industrial metals (copper, nickel, tin, etc). On palm oil, Jokowi demands stoppage of export in the form of CPO & PKO.

Some Asian countries, including our neighbors Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia, are among those in the list of nations already placed orders to buy Covid-19 antiviral drug Molnupiravir from Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp (USA). Early this month, Australia claimed of securing 300,000 courses of the antiviral. Malaysia ordered 150,000 courses, while South Korea placed 20,000 courses of order. Should we join the rush to buy the drug?

The government, through the Ministry of Communication and Information plans to build a National Data Center (PDN) in order to integrate government data with a multi-layered security system that aligns with the security standards. This PDN, therefore, will unite 2,700 data centers. Minister of Communication and Information Johnny G. Plate has stated that the PDN will be built in four locations: Bekasi (West Java), Batam (Riau Islands), the new capital city in East Kalimantan, and Labuan Bajo (East Nusa Tenggara province).

Following commercial operation of PT Halmahera Persada Lygen, the first high pressure acid leach (HPAL) nickel smelter, Indonesia will soon see commissioning of the second HPAL, strengthening the country’s position in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain.

Indonesia booked trade surplus of US$4.37 billion in September 2021, down 8% from August but jumped 83.2% year-on-year. In the first nine months of 2021, trade surplus reached a new record of US$25.07 billion, jumped nearly by 88% from the corresponding period last year thanks to 40.4% increase in export revenues. 

Indonesian customers’ interest in electric cars surprised Hyundai, which builds the first electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing facility in the country. Chief Operating Officer of PT Hyundai Motors Indonesia, Makmur, said the company has taken orders for 600 units, consisted of Kona Electric (60%) and Ioniq (40%). The estimated on the road (OTR) price of Kona Electric (SUV) and Ioniq (sedan) is Rp600 million (around US$42,000).

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo has on Thursday (Oct 14) inaugurated commercial operation of Wae Kelambu port in Komodo sub-district, West Manggarai, Flores Island, which is the first logistic port in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province. The multipurpose terminal, located 10-12 KM from the existing port in Labuan Bajo, means the existing port will only serve passenger ships, including cruises and yachts.

Changing paradigm in modernization of weaponry system based on instruction from President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo should see more investments by global defense contractors and partnerships with Indonesian defense industry going forward.

After decades of talk and talk, PT Freeport Indonesia, now majority owned by the State, has finally kicked off physical construction of a new copper smelter in Gresik, East Java province. President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo himself officially launched the project this morning (Oct 12) to end years of speculation about location for the new smelter.