Asean battery initiative advances to industrial scale
NanoMalaysia Bhd and an Indonesian partner have launched an NMC-graphene lithium-ion pouch cell at a conference, marking a step toward industrial-scale battery production in the region.
The 4th Asean Battery Technology Conference (ABTC 2026) in Sepang highlighted the need for Asean countries to transition from discussions to industrial-scale production in the battery sector. The conference underscored the importance of scaling manufacturing, establishing standards, and enhancing investment and commercialization to build a competitive battery industry in the region.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Chang Lih Kang emphasized Asean's potential to leverage regional strengths in research, manufacturing, standards development, investment, and market integration. He advocated for a shift towards industrialization to meet the growing demand for batteries driven by electric mobility and energy storage.
A significant development at the conference was the unveiling of a Malaysia-Indonesia NMC-graphene lithium-ion pouch cell. This project, a collaboration between NanoMalaysia Bhd and Indonesia's National Battery Research Institute (NBRI), builds on a memorandum of understanding signed at ABTC 2025. It combines Indonesia's NMC active-material capabilities with Malaysia's expertise in battery formulation, graphene technology, and cell development.
Prof (Adj) Dr Rezal Khairi Ahmad, CEO of NanoMalaysia, highlighted the challenge of scaling and commercializing technologies across Asean. He noted that while Malaysia has developed infrastructure to transition technologies from research to industrial application, a collaborative regional effort is essential to build a robust battery economy.
The conference also saw the announcement of several agreements related to battery energy storage systems, advanced materials, recycling, manufacturing, and digital technologies. These partnerships involve companies such as GigaFactory Malaysia, Milan Utama, Ampace, Green Tenaga, Go Rental Singapore, Axium Industries, and Montavista Energy Technologies, aiming to advance battery and energy storage technologies and explore commercial applications.
International Battery Center CEO Ts Dr Nurul Akmaliah Dzulkurnain stated that ABTC 2026 serves as a platform for Asean stakeholders to connect their strengths in policy, research, manufacturing, safety, and deployment. By integrating these capabilities, the region can work towards a more resilient and competitive battery ecosystem.
Source: Graphene Feed