Battery pioneer Britishvolt will partner with VKTR, a new division of Indonesian industrial conglomerate Bakrie & Brothers, to develop a supply of nickel sulphate from Indonesia.

A new joint venture called Indovolt BV VKTR will establish a nickel sulphate facility in Indonesia to supply battery raw materials to Britishvolt’s Gigaplant in Northumberland, England. The companies will also commission a study to examine the possibility of building a battery Gigaplant in Indonesia.

Indonesia is the world’s largest nickel-producing country, and aspires to build its own EV industry.

“Indonesia has enormous potential that will see global investment flow into the country as it aims to become a world leader on the international battery stage,” said Orral Nadjari, CEO and founder of Britishvolt. “Secure, sustainable supply chains are essential for a successful energy transition.”

Britishvolt is working on several fronts to make its operations more sustainable. The company recently announced a strategic partnership with global mining giant Glencore for the supply of responsibly sourced cobalt. Britishvolt aims to bring the carbon footprint of its battery production down to 25 kg per kWh—according to the company, the global average is 93 kg/kWh.

Source: Britishvolt