JAKARTA, thekabarnews.com – President Prabowo Subianto traveled to Central Halmahera in North Maluku on Thursday morning, Oct. 8, to launch an industrial downstreaming package valued at US$10.2 billion, or about Rp180 trillion.

The agenda at the Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) includes the start of commercial operations at four industrial facilities. Prabowo is also scheduled to break ground on seven new projects. Additionally, he will mark the first export of electric-vehicle batteries under the program.

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya announced the visit in a statement released by the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday morning.

“Early this morning, President Prabowo Subianto departed for Central Halmahera, North Maluku, to launch a downstreaming program worth US$10.2 billion, or around Rp180 trillion,” Teddy said.

He added that the 11 projects represented different stages of industrial development. Four facilities are ready to enter commercial operation, while construction will begin on the remaining seven.

“The President will launch the first export of electric-vehicle batteries and inaugurate the commercial operation of four industrial projects. The president will also begin the construction of seven new industrial projects in the IWIP area,” Teddy said.

The government had not provided a detailed breakdown of each project’s investment value, production capacity or ownership structure in its initial announcement. It also did not specify the destination or volume of the battery shipment.

The US$10.2 billion figure therefore represents the government’s stated value for the overall industrial package. It does not refer to the value of the first export.

The projects form part of Indonesia’s policy of processing mineral resources domestically before export. Through this strategy, the government aims to move the country beyond raw-material production and capture more value from manufacturing.

Indonesia has already started building an integrated EV-battery supply chain covering nickel extraction, mineral processing and battery manufacturing.

A separate integrated battery project launched in 2025 involved a planned investment of nearly US$6 billion across North Maluku and West Java. Its battery-cell facilities were designed to reach 15 gigawatt-hours of annual capacity, according to the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.

The latest IWIP package could further expand that supply chain by connecting mineral processing in North Maluku with higher-value industrial production. However, the economic benefits will depend on how much technology, employment and business activity the projects generate domestically.

Large-scale mineral development also requires effective environmental safeguards and worker protections. Authorities will need to disclose the projects’ production plans and environmental obligations as construction proceeds.

Prabowo traveled with coordinating downstreaming and energy transition minister Bahlil Lahadalia, who also serves as the energy and mineral resources minister. Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Sugiono, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi and Housing and Settlements Minister Maruarar Sirait also joined the visit, according to the Presidential Secretariat.

The Halmahera launch demonstrates the administration’s continued reliance on downstream processing to attract investment. Its longer-term success will ultimately depend on whether the projects create broad local benefits while meeting environmental and safety standards.