As the automotive industry shifts from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs), many countries are setting new strategies in their transportation sector. The Li-ion battery is currently the most common battery used in EVs due to its high energy density, durability, safety, and cost competitiveness. Nickel is predicted to be an essential component for the lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NMC) as a cathode material of choice for EV applications. Indonesia, one of the world’s largest nickel ore suppliers, put an export ban on nickel ore effective from 2020. The bold movement was intended to initiate the domestic EV industry and encourage investors abroad to drive their manufacturing activities into the country. On the other hand, the global Li-ion battery manufacturers who imported nickel from Indonesia had to restrategize their businesses. This review discussed the chronological events leading to the ban and after the ban from the media, government regulations, and literature reviews. The authors of this study also conducted interviews and attended seminars with the national experts and key players in the battery and EV industry to gain their most pertinent insights. The SWOT analysis of the reviewed materials indicated that while the Indonesian battery industry is still new, it needs to diversify its research and development activities and collaborate internationally to optimize the utilization of its resources and meet the purchasing power of the domestic EV market. Finally, this study summarized six key factors to support Indonesia’s ambition to be a new regional hub for EVs. These factors are: (1) pricing, (2) technology, (3) policy, (4) investment, (5) infrastructure, and (6) compliance with sustainability standards.

Under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world has pledged to “leaving no one behind”. Responding to goal No. 7 on the agenda, efforts to provide modern energy to all the world population must be pushed forward. This is important because electrification in the rural area can indirectly support opportunities for social and economic development resulting in an acceleration of the eradication of poverty. The research goal of this study is to contribute insights about the scale of energy demand in unelectrified villages in the Southeast Asian countries and to discuss some factors that might influence the energy demand growth. This is done by making projections based on surveys and interviews, including a time-use survey, in three off-grid villages located in Myanmar, Indonesia, and Laos. Our analysis presented the living condition, highlight the types of energy sources, how, and in what rhythms people use energy on a daily basis in those villages. The demands in each case study villages were then projected based on several constructed scenarios. It was found that the factors of household size, proximity to the city, climate, and topography may influence the present and future growth of energy demands in the villages. The estimated energy demand may be useful for project managers to design a pilot off-grid energy system project in a similar environment and pointed out important factors to consider when formulating off-grid energy policies in the region.

Background: The growing issues about waste management and climate change compel the exploration and implementation of sustainable energy solutions derived from waste. In this context, Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF), a processed solid fuel generated from municipal solid waste (MSW), presents itself as a promising strategy. By offering an alternative to conventional fossil fuels, RDF can mitigate the environmental impact of MSW and potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions. RDF can provide cleaner energy for a more sustainable future. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the RDF site's economic condition, revenue generation, costs, and the net benefit from RDF production in RDF Plant-based landfills in Indonesia. Method: In addition, cost–benefit analysis (CBA) was carried out to study the economic factors. Result: According to cost-benefit analysis, benefits are higher than production costs. The net benefit gained in this study is IDR 33.035.853.659, with each ton of RDF offering IDR 1.242.977 in benefits. The study revealed that revenue per ton RDF is about IDR 414.000, with a production cost RDF of 342.388 per ton. Conclusion: The study concludes that utilizing all generated waste into RDF presents a financially beneficial strategy for municipalities and consumers (cement kilns). Findings indicate the potential for RDF implementation to yield cost savings and land savings.

Indonesia, as a country with intensive skill positions, needs to pay attention to the management of colleges. Standardization and development are essential processes in higher education. These can be achieved through the implementation of total quality management (TQM). The initial steps to achieve TQM in higher education are the 5-S kaizen principles (Seiri/Sort, Seiton/Set in order, Seiso/Shine, Seiketsu/Standardize, dan Shitsuke/Sustain) and ISO 9000. There are many similarities between the requirements of the quality management system (QMS) standard of ISO 9001 and 5-S principles. Thus, the integration of both systems in higher education is very potential to be implemented. This research was conducted at college Diploma Program. The implementation of 5-S principle integrated with the requirements of ISO 9001 used Analytical Hierarchy Process, Cross-Tabulation Correlation, and Importance Performance Analysis. The results of this research show the priority degree of 5-S principles on ISO 9001 requirements. It is also found that there is a close relationship (correlation value) between each 5-S principle and ISO 9001 requirements, and the results of the performance evaluation of the implementation of the integration system in college.

The selection of the right timing for the harvest of oil palm fresh fruit bunch (FFB) can affect the outcome of the palm fruit quality, which can further imply the quality of crude palm oil (CPO). Truly ripen fruits can boost the yield and quality of crude palm oil. The determination of fruit ripeness is done with an approach to estimating the time of the harvest cycle and the approximate number of palm oil fruits that are detached from their bunches (loose-fruit). The study aimed to investigate the exact harvesting time with variations in the number of palm oil fruits that loose at each additional day after the occurrence of one or two fruitlets detach. The parameters used to test the quality of palm oil fruit harvested were the level of free fatty acids (FFA) and the yield of crude palm oil. The variation used was based on two factors: the number of days after the discovery of the fruit loose released from its bunch and the planting plant. The results of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) showed that the quality of oil palm fruit corresponded to the percentage of the number of palm oil fruits detached from their bunch and the age of the plant. Based on the results obtained, the optimal harvest time can be carried out until the sixth day after the first time of detached fruits for all planting ages. Keywords: Crude palm oil, Free fatty acid, Analysis of variance test, Fruit loose, Plant age

Superabsorbent hydrogels were produced using a graft copolymerization technique, utilizing hydrolyzed collagen obtained from hide trimming waste and acrylic acid as the monomer. Methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) was employed as a crosslinker. The concentrations of acrylic acid and MBA were systematically optimized to obtain maximum swelling capacity. The maximum swelling capacity was 156 g/g in distilled water. The structure of the superabsorbent was verified using FTIR spectroscopy, and the morphology was identified using SEM. Various salt solutions (NaCl, KCl, MgCl2, and CaCl2) and solutions with pH levels spanning from 1 to 13 were also utilized to evaluate the swelling capacity of hydrogels.