How China Took Over Indonesia’s Nickel Industry To Fuel Its EVs

Indonesia has become the world’s leading producer of nickel, supplying over 40% of global demand crucial for electric vehicle batteries. This surge is driven by partnerships with China, which has improved local refining capabilities. Meanwhile, the United States faces challenges with limited nickel supply, mining just 17,000 metric tons in 2023 compared to Indonesia’s 1.8 million metric tons. Elon Musk has emphasized the need for increased nickel production, highlighting its importance for Tesla and the EV sector. Companies like Talon Metals have been working on opening a new nickel mine in Minnesota, aiming to address the challenges of limited nickel supply in the U.S. CNBC visited a remote area in Sulawesi, Indonesia to understand the impact of nickel mining on locals’ lives, and to find out why China and Indonesia together have disrupted the entire nickel industry.

Chapters:
03:46 Title card: How China took over Indonesia’s nickel industry to fuel EV growth
03:54 Chapter 1: A rise in demand
06:23 Chapter 2: China’s plan for dominance
10:00 Chapter 3: The true cost
14:08 Chapter 4: The path forward

Produced and Edited by: Lisa Setyon
Senior Managing Producer: Jeniece Pettitt
Field Production and Camera
Sufiani Dartunis Luan, Ibnu Hadi Rachmat
Animation: Jason Reginato
Additional footage: Getty Images, Talon Metals, Satya Bumi
Additional Camera: Magdalena Petrova
Additional Voice Acting: Erin Black, Ryan Baker

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How China Took Over Indonesia’s Nickel Industry To Fuel Its EVs

[Jerry-iiyp]

The west has pretty high moral standard to other countries but once it comes to their own, you know what is going to happen? Silence😅

[gregorymalchuk]

It's fascinating how land clearance in developing countries is called "deforestation" but land clearance for agriculture, commercial, and industrial projects in the West *isn't* viewed as deforestation and habitat destruction.

[Luvinist]

The West had the same chance to invest in Indonesia. They chose economic colonialism instead with WTO. Indonesia will not fall for that again.

[tackaerep]

We have similar problem in Serbia, but our problem is western based company called Rio Tinto. Unfortunatly since they are westerners, we won't recieve media attention in our battle. Even German PM, came few days ago with german carmakers to pressure and sign deals with our government giving EU prefered conditions.
They don't care that most of citizens are against it, since we are aware of how lithium is beeing dug, and we are aware of Rio Tinto's history.
In heart of Europe we will get dirty mines that will polute our water and destroy our lands, locals are fighting against it, even 2 years ago when whole country protested governemnt decided to stop it, but changed it's mind after elections and after EU pushed a bit. EU doesn't care about regulations, health or greeen energy if it's not strictily in EU, that's why they don't mine lithium in their countries that way.
I would like for CNBC to come to Serbia and make a small documentary about it, even tho it's against western company.

[kudajingkrak]

Back then the Indonesian Government invited the world to invest in the smelting/refining industry in Indonesia. But only China and S Korean companies responded... Today the west are on the bitter side. wkwkwk....
Not only Nickel, Indonesia also big on Manganese, Cobalt, Copper, and Tin... and coal.

[rhs_]

BLAMING CHINA for everything seems to be much easier than fixing their old, dated auto industry! 🤣

[bedhenis]

When western lose their market, they always looking the dark side their opponent. Same with palm oil black campaign causing deforestation, while they never mention their vegetable oil industries even worse than palm oil.
When western have advantage from indonesia nickel ore, they keep silent. But when indonesia ban nickel ore, suddenly they talking environment.
When western talking about clean nickel. Indonesia ask them to come to indonesia to invest and make clean nickel here. Please tell us how to make clean nickel. But what happen? No, , , they would not come.
Indonesia never planning to make china dominant here in nickel smelter industries. The problem is western don't want come here.
They, the western is looser who just keep yelling when they are loose their money in international competition.
CNBC should mention this. Western nickel mining and processing is out of date a decade, compare to chinese. That is why they always looking the dark side.
NO ONE OF MINING I THIS ENTIRE WORLD IS ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY, EVEN IN WESTERN COUNTRIES.

[ArkenZio.W_]

This happened because western countries did not want to comply with the terms of Indonesian nickel cooperation😂

Most of the Indonesian resources is taken out of the country, and the profits for the country itself are smaller. This is detrimental to their country and only benefits other countries. This is why the Indonesian government made terms that investor who want nickel from Indonesia, create their companies there. This could open up job vacancies and advance Indonesia's economy and technology. Luckily, China is willing to comply with these terms and western countries only blame Indonesia for this

Also, sorry for my english, im still learning

[Victorchaint]

Oh, please, the same thing goes to your american companies as well.

[deutschdois]

So sad watching this on CNBC

The truth is Indonesia open for investment for every country, tbh Indonesia desperate for it (investment for together handling nickel). China so fast dip in to it, with Indonesia agreement & rules, but western want other ways.

Now their crying cause China dominating Indonesia Nickle. . . 😮

Another example, Indonesia government come to the point looks like salesman (I'm seriously) even president & ministry meet Elon Musk begging for their Investment in Indonesia. But Elon Musk chose to not (strangely)

And now their complaining China dominating Indonesia nickle 😮 & now they banging Indonesia, with classic environment propaganda.

It's all about regional power. Cause world predict nickel is future, and it can bring Indonesia to be as strong as oil producer countries.

[RealGrandFail]

This is what should be done in Africa, Ban raw material exports. Processing should be done in Africa.

[champan]

Poor research, you are commingled between nickel mining and nickel processing. Nickel mining in Indonesia is not controlled by the Chinese, a big portion is still controlled by Indonesian tycoons, Vale, France's Eramet and an Australia-listed company. The Chinese dominance is in several industrial parks that Indonesia govt carved it out to the Chinese to process these ores.

[TimTim]

So these mining directors want to raise Nickel price to raise the battery price and get money from everyone.

[auro]

how? america scanned soil in every country and distributed mines

[teoengchin]

Why mainstream media never investigates if the crude oil drilled by Exxon, BP & Shell is ethically sourced?

[chi-jenyang]

China did not just take over Indonesia's nickel industry to fuel its EVs. China took over Indonesia's nickel industry to fuel our EVs.

[ornachia]

So you mad because only China interested to actually invest in Indonesia for it Nickels, while the US and Europe only want the raw materials not the Investation??

[PranicEnergy]

Western countries like the US, canada and Australia has among the highest per capita carbon emission in the world. I don"t really understand why since they hardly produce anything.

[rhs_]

It's not Western media if they're not bias

[jimmynam]

Hummm, I can taste the bitterness in this documentary 😂