The China in Africa Podcast

[GLOBAL SOUTH] China and the Indonesia Nickel Trade: Measuring the True Labor and Environmental Cost

Feb 28, 2024

Delving into the environmental impact of EVs, labor issues, and human rights abuses in Indonesia's nickel industry dominated by Chinese companies. Exploring the challenges of green development and energy transition, transparency issues, and the implications of the Indonesian government's policies on labor and the environment.

43:43

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Episode guests

Krista Shennum

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

EV batteries for green cars have hidden labor and environmental costs in Indonesia.

China's dominance in Indonesia's nickel sector raises concerns over human rights and environmental abuses.

Deep dives

China's Involvement in Global South Mining for Critical Minerals

China plays a significant role in global south countries' mining of critical minerals necessary for high-tech products and green technologies. These critical minerals are crucial for strategic technologies and climate adaptation, making them highly sought after. China's partnerships in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chile, and Indonesia for mining and refining these minerals have raised geopolitical tensions.

Introduction

3min

Nickel Refining in Indonesia: Profits, Challenges, and Stakeholders

22min

Green Development Challenges in Indonesia and Chinese Investments

11min

Transparency Issues in the Indonesian Nickel Industry and Call for Environmental Health Information Accessibility

2min

Implications of the Next President's Policies on the Nickel Industry and Environmental Concerns

3min

Future Implications of Indonesia's Policies and Strategies on Labor and Environment

2min

A lot of EV consumers bought new battery-powered cars in the hope it would be better for the environment than a vehicle with a conventional internal combustion engine that runs on fossil fuels. By some measures, that's no doubt true.

But many of these early adopters are also unaware their supposedly "green" cars aren't quite as carbon neutral as promised and that there are serious labor and human rights problems related to the metals used to manufacture the batteries that power those EVs.

Krista Shennum, a climate and human rights researcher at Climate Rights International, joins Cobus & Antonia to discuss the situation in Indonesia where Chinese mining companies dominate the all-important nickel sector that's rife with labor and environmental abuses.

SHOW NOTES:

Climate Rights International: Nickel Unearthed -- The Human and Climate Costs of Indonesia's Nickel Industry: https://cri.org/reports/nickel-unearthed/

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The China in Africa Podcast

[GLOBAL SOUTH] China and the Indonesia Nickel Trade: Measuring the True Labor and Environmental Cost

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

China's Involvement in Global South Mining for Critical Minerals

Challenges Faced by Global South Governments in Mining Industry

Environmental and Social Impacts of Nickel Refining in Indonesia

Wider Implications of China's Role in Global South Mining Industry

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts