Nickel plays a crucial role in EV batteries. Since electrons move more freely through nickel than through many other materials, nickel-rich batteries typically store more energy, giving EVs greater driving range.
However, nickel is chemically unstable on its own. Overcharging or physical damage can trigger a chain reaction that may lead to combustion or explosion. Hence, battery-grade nickel is typically combined with other elements such as cobalt, aluminium and manganese to improve stability and safety.
Indonesia is the world’s second-largest producer of cobalt – a metal often found alongside nickel and mined together with it. The country produces about 28,000 tonnes of cobalt a year – roughly 7 per cent of global supply – although it still lags behind the Democratic Republic of Congo, which produces more than 170,000 tonnes annually.
Southeast Asia’s largest economy is also the world’s sixth-largest producer of bauxite, the ore used to make aluminium, with an annual output of about 20 million tonnes. By comparison, the top three producers – Australia, Guinea and China – each produce 98 million, 97 million and 93 million tonnes a year respectively.
Indonesia produces less than 5,000 tonnes of manganese a year, a negligible amount compared with major producers such as South Africa, Australia and Gabon, which turn out about 5.2 million, 3.3 million and 2.8 million tonnes annually, respectively.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/electric-vehicles-indonesia-nickel-mining-environment-5983106
