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Eramet, BASF cancel strategy to invest $2.6 billion in refining complex in Indonesia

French miner Eramet said on Monday it had actually chosen, along with Germany's BASF, to cancel a $2.6 billion joint financial investment task in a. nickelcobalt refining complex in Weda Bay, Indonesia.

After a comprehensive examination, including conversations about. project execution method, both partners have chosen versus. this investment, Eramet said in a news release, without. elaborating.

Eramet will continue to examine potential investments in. the nickel electric car battery worth chain in Indonesia and. will keep the market notified in due course, it added.

An Indonesian official stated the companies have actually notified the. federal government about the decision, stating that there are numerous. high pressure acid leach (HPAL) centers in the country. currently and on the pipeline.

I think this cancellation was due to the fact that they saw that. there was already a lot of HPAL in Indonesia, so it is easier to. get MHP (combined hydroxide precipitate), so there was no requirement to. invest large capex to construct it by themselves, stated Septian Hario. Seto, senior authorities at Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry of. Maritime and Financial Investment Affairs.

A number of

Chinese

companies and their

local

partners

have invested in

HPAL

in Indonesia as the nickel-rich nation aims to construct a. homegrown EV industry.

In January 2023, Indonesian officials had said the French. group and BASF were close to finalising a $2.6 billion. investment in the production of nickel for use in batteries for. electrical automobiles. The project was based on resources extracted. from Eramet's mine in Weda Bay.

Eramet had then verified negotiations were underway, however. said the job underwent a final financial investment decision.

(source: Reuters)