Clara Ferreira Marques, Columnist

Can Greener Nickel Fulfill EV Dream?: Elements by Clara F Marques

Indonesia’s strategy to move up the electric-vehicle value chain may require a big cleanup.

August 22, 2022 at 11:18 AM UTC

Clara Ferreira Marques is a managing editor for Commodities and Energy in Asia. Previously, she was a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and editorial board member.

An excavator at a nickel mine operated by PT Teknik Alum Service in Indonesia.
Photographer: Dimas Ardian/Bloomberg

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Hi, I’m Clara Ferreira Marques and this is Elements, Bloomberg’s daily energy and commodities newsletter. We bring you a blend of commentary from Bloomberg Opinion writers and the best of our market-leading news coverage. If you haven’t signed up for delivery to your inbox, you can do that here.

Indonesia may use a nickel export tax to propel itself up the electric-vehicle value chain, the country’s president told Bloomberg News last week. Reducing dependence on raw materials is a laudable intention, Jakarta needs to create jobs, and the islands have impressive reserves of the key battery material to leverage. But matching lofty official expectations will require a cleanup, too.