Ahead of the 13th Battery Summit in Tokyo, we interviewed Meidy Katrin Lengkey, General Secretary of the Association of Nickel Miners Indonesia (APNI), who will be speaking at the event. In this interview, she discusses her background, the latest trends in Indonesia’s nickel production, key drivers behind its rapid growth, and opportunities for collaboration between Indonesia and Japan in the battery and critical materials supply chain.
Q1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and share how you became involved in Indonesia’s nickel industry?
My name is Meidy Katrin Lengkey, and I serve as the General Secretary of the Association of Nickel Miners Indonesia (APNI). APNI was established under the direction of Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to represent and strengthen the country’s nickel industry. Founded on March 6, 2017, APNI will celebrate its ninth anniversary next month. Despite being a relatively young organization, it has achieved significant progress in supporting the development of Indonesia’s nickel sector.
My involvement in the nickel industry began earlier. In 2008, I founded my own mining business, and from 2009 to 2014, I exported nickel ore to China. However, exports were suspended between 2014 and 2017 following the government’s export ban policy. This marked a major turning point, as Indonesia shifted its focus toward domestic downstream processing and value-added production.
At APNI, I have been closely involved in supporting this transformation. The association also contributes to the development of Indonesia’s nickel benchmark price, which is published regularly and serves as an important reference for the industry.
Q2. Indonesia has become a key global supplier of nickel. Could you share the latest trends in production and what is driving this growth?
Indonesia’s nickel industry has experienced remarkable growth, particularly since the government fully implemented the nickel ore export ban in 2020 to accelerate domestic downstream development. This policy is part of a broader national strategy to increase the value of Indonesia’s critical mineral resources.
Currently, Indonesia has 61 operating smelters using Rotary Kiln Electric Furnace (RKEF) technology, producing nickel pig iron, ferronickel, nickel matte, and stainless steel. In addition, High-Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL) facilities are producing mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP), nickel sulfate, cobalt sulfate, and other key battery materials, including precursors.
Including projects under construction, the total number of nickel processing facilities is expected to reach 163—an extraordinary expansion achieved in less than a decade.
Since 2023, Indonesia has accounted for approximately 65–67% of global nickel supply, and this share could exceed 70% by 2026. This growth has been driven by strong government support for downstream investment, rapid expansion of processing capacity, and increasing global demand, particularly from the stainless steel and electric vehicle (EV) battery sectors.
At the same time, the government has introduced production quota reductions to strengthen sustainability and ESG compliance and promote responsible mining practices. This reflects Indonesia’s commitment to balancing growth with long-term environmental and industry stability.
Q3. What are the key challenges currently facing Indonesia’s nickel industry?
One of the main challenges is regulatory uncertainty. Frequent changes in government regulations can make it difficult for companies to adapt quickly and plan long-term investments. Improving regulatory clarity and consistency will be essential to maintaining investor confidence and supporting sustainable growth.
Another challenge is balancing production quotas with domestic demand. In 2026, for example, the government reduced the nickel production quota to approximately 215 million tons, down from 379 million tons the previous year. However, domestic smelters require more than 400 million tons of ore, creating a supply gap. To address this, Indonesia has begun importing nickel ore from the Philippines.
ESG compliance also presents both challenges and opportunities. Existing international ESG frameworks do not always fully reflect Indonesia’s specific conditions. As a result, APNI is working with global OEMs such as Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW to develop ESG standards that are internationally recognized while also suited to Indonesia’s mining environment.
Q4. What is your outlook on the future of Indonesia’s nickel industry?
The outlook for Indonesia’s nickel industry remains highly positive. The government is shifting its focus from exporting raw and intermediate materials toward producing higher value finished products, including battery cells and electric vehicles. This strategy is expected to further strengthen Indonesia’s position in the global EV and battery supply chain.
Major global manufacturers have already begun investing in Indonesia. For example, BYD and Hyundai are currently constructing EV production facilities, with operations expected to begin by late this year or early next year. This marks an important step toward building a fully integrated domestic EV ecosystem.
Indonesia’s influence on the global nickel market is also reflected in pricing. Following the government’s announcement of production quota reductions in December 2025, nickel prices on the London Metal Exchange rose sharply from approximately $14,000 to $18,000 per ton. This underscores Indonesia’s critical role in shaping global nickel supply and pricing.
Looking ahead, the government plans to prioritize investment in downstream industries such as batteries and stainless steel rather than intermediate products. This strategic direction is expected to maximize economic value, support national economic growth, and further strengthen Indonesia’s position as a global leader in critical materials.
Q5. What message would you like to share ahead of the Tokyo Summit?
The Battery Summit serves as an important platform to strengthen collaboration across the global battery and critical minerals ecosystem. In particular, participation from key industry stakeholders, including those from China, would be highly meaningful.
Their involvement would create valuable opportunities to exchange insights, deepen mutual understanding, and explore new areas of cooperation. We hope the summit will further strengthen partnerships across the industry and serve as a catalyst for closer collaboration, particularly between Indonesia and Japan, both of which play critical roles in the global battery supply chain.
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(IRuniverse Midori Fushimi)
