Jakarta, October 8, 2026 – The Europe Today: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has emphasized the importance of environmental sustainability alongside industrial development as the country accelerates its natural resource downstreaming program.
Speaking at the launch of 11 downstreaming projects at the Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) in Central Halmahera, North Maluku, on Thursday, President Prabowo called on industrial operators to maintain strict standards for environmental protection, particularly in safeguarding air and water quality and ensuring proper waste management.
The President stressed that Indonesia’s abundant natural resources must be managed responsibly so that their benefits contribute directly to the welfare and prosperity of the Indonesian people.
“We face the future with a full sense of responsibility for our children and grandchildren,” Prabowo said, underscoring the need to balance economic development with environmental responsibility.
The remarks came as Prabowo officially launched 11 downstreaming projects with a combined investment value of US$10.2 billion, alongside Indonesia’s first export shipment of electric vehicle batteries.
The projects comprise four industrial operations entering their commercial phase and seven new facilities whose construction was formally launched at IWIP. The commercial projects include Blue Sparking Energy, REPT Battero Indonesia, Pioneer Aluminium Industries and XCMG Indonesia Manufacturing.
The seven new projects are Guangqing Nickel Cobalt, Eno Prima Material, Tinci Materials Indonesia, Weda Bay Aluminium, Bintang Karya Aluminium, Flat Solar Energy Indonesia and Guangqing Motor Indonesia.
President Prabowo said the development of domestic processing industries was essential to retaining greater added value from Indonesia’s mineral resources within the country, rather than exporting raw materials.
He has repeatedly placed downstreaming at the center of the government’s industrialization strategy, seeking to transform Indonesia’s substantial natural resources into higher-value industrial products.
The President’s emphasis on environmental safeguards reflects the government’s position that industrial expansion must be accompanied by responsible resource management and protection of the environment for future generations.
