Elon Musk recently made appearances in Indonesia, first debuting SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet and later speaking at the World Water Forum in Bali. At the forum, he addressed the water crisis, emphasizing the importance of desalination and water transportation in addressing the issue. Musk highlighted the decreasing costs and increasing efficiency of water desalination, drawing parallels to the declining costs of solar energy.
He also fielded questions about water crisis solutions and research and development in desalination. Musk’s visit to Indonesia follows ongoing discussions with Indonesian officials about potential business ventures in the country. While in Indonesia, Musk was asked about the possibility of building an electric vehicle (EV) plant in the country.
Despite his focus on the Starlink debut, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has expressed interest in collaborating with Musk on various projects, including building an EV plant and sourcing nickel for Tesla’s operations. Following the Starlink debut, Indonesian officials indicated that Musk was considering the idea of building a cathode plant in Indonesia. Overall, Musk’s engagements in Indonesia reflect his interest in exploring opportunities for collaboration and investment in the country, particularly in the areas of satellite internet technology, electric vehicles, and renewable energy.