How China Took Over Indonesia’s Nickel Industry To Fuel Its EVs

Indonesia has become the world’s leading producer of nickel, supplying over 40% of global demand crucial for electric vehicle batteries. This surge is driven by partnerships with China, which has improved local refining capabilities. Meanwhile, the United States faces challenges with limited nickel supply, mining just 17,000 metric tons in 2023 compared to Indonesia’s 1.8 million metric tons. Elon Musk has emphasized the need for increased nickel production, highlighting its importance for Tesla and the EV sector. Companies like Talon Metals have been working on opening a new nickel mine in Minnesota, aiming to address the challenges of limited nickel supply in the U.S. CNBC visited a remote area in Sulawesi, Indonesia to understand the impact of nickel mining on locals’ lives, and to find out why China and Indonesia together have disrupted the entire nickel industry. Chapters: 03:46 Title card: How China took over Indonesia’s nickel industry to fuel EV growth 03:54 Chapter 1: A rise in demand 06:23 Chapter 2: China’s plan for dominance 10:00 Chapter 3: The true cost 14:08 Chapter 4: The path forward Produced and Edited by: Lisa Setyon Senior Managing Producer: Jeniece Pettitt Field Production and Camera Sufiani Dartunis Luan, Ibnu Hadi Rachmat Animation: Jason Reginato Additional footage: Getty Images, Talon Metals, Satya Bumi Additional Camera: Magdalena Petrova Additional Voice Acting: Erin Black, Ryan Baker » Subscribe to CNBC: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBC » Subscribe to CNBC TV: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCtelevision About CNBC: From 'Wall Street' to 'Main Street' to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more. Want to stop worrying about money? Sign up for CNBC’s new online course Achieve Financial Wellness: Be Happier, Wealthier & More Financially Secure. We’ll teach you the psychology of money, how to manage your stress and create healthy habits, and simple ways to boost your savings, get out of debt and invest for the future. Start today and use code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off through Sept. 2, 2024: https://cnb.cx/3WiasGB Connect with CNBC News Online Get the latest news: https://www.cnbc.com/ Follow CNBC on LinkedIn: https://cnb.cx/LinkedInCNBC Follow CNBC News on Instagram: https://cnb.cx/InstagramCNBC Follow CNBC News on Facebook: https://cnb.cx/LikeCNBC Follow CNBC on Threads: https://cnb.cx/threads Follow CNBC News on X: https://cnb.cx/FollowCNBC Follow CNBC on WhatsApp: https://cnb.cx/WhatsAppCNBC #CNBC How China Took Over Indonesia’s Nickel Industry To Fuel Its EVs