A report from C4ADS, a global security nonprofit based in Washington, has revealed that Chinese companies control approximately 75% of Indonesia’s nickel refining capacity, raising concerns about supply chain control and environmental risks. As of 2023, Indonesia’s refining capacity, which totals 8 million metric tons, is distributed across 33 companies. However, shareholder overlap shows that Chinese firms effectively control about three-quarters of the smelting capacity.
The report highlights that, while Indonesia aims to use its nickel industry as a key driver for economic growth, the substantial foreign influence could limit the country’s ability to fully control and shape the industry for its own benefit. The dominance of Chinese-controlled nickel production is also seen as a competitive disadvantage for U.S. and European automakers, especially in the growing electric vehicle (EV) market. Nickel, a key component in EV batteries, is crucial for the development of green technologies, but increasing restrictions on trade with China could affect access to this vital resource.
An Indonesian official noted last year that Chinese companies were seeking partnerships with Indonesian and South Korean firms to reduce their stakes in smelters, making their products more accessible to the U.S. market. To address these concerns, President Prabowo Subianto formed a task force to develop Indonesia’s downstream mineral industry with domestic financing, aiming to reduce the perception that foreigners benefit the most from the country’s resources.
The C4ADS report pointed out that two Chinese companies, Tsingshan Holding Group and Jiangsu Delong Nickel Industry Co Ltd, were responsible for over 70% of Indonesia’s refining capacity as of 2023. These companies were among the first investors in Indonesia’s push for domestic processing of nickel ore, a move that has helped make Indonesia the world’s dominant producer of nickel.
The report also mentions safety issues tied to Chinese-owned facilities. In December 2023, two workers at a Tsingshan Stainless Steel facility in Central Sulawesi were sentenced to jail for negligence related to a fire that caused fatalities. Additionally, in early 2023, two workers died in clashes at the PT Gunbuster Nickel Industry smelter in North Morowali, owned by Jiangsu Delong Nickel Industry.
Despite these concerns, Tsingshan has been selling stakes in some of its smelters. In October 2023, the company reached a deal with Indonesian state miner Aneka Tambang to sell 30% of PT Jiu Long Metal Industry.