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A new investigation links nickel in electric car batteries to the destruction of rainforests in Indonesia.
Level 1 · Easy
Electric cars help reduce air pollution. However, making their batteries can still harm nature. A new report shows that big car companies may use nickel from damaged forests in Indonesia.
This nickel comes from the island of Sulawesi. Mining companies cut down large areas of rainforest there. Tolaki people live on this land and need the forest to survive.
The nickel travels from local mines to factories in China. Later, it becomes batteries for brands like Volkswagen, Ford, and Tesla. Many carmakers say they are looking into these concerns.
Level 2 · Medium
Electric vehicles help fight climate change, but their batteries can cause environmental damage. A new media has linked top carmakers to the destruction of rainforests on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.
Sulawesi holds the largest nickel on Earth. Companies need this metal to produce battery cathodes, which give cars more driving range. However, satellite data shows that mines such as Cahaya and Hengjaya have destroyed ancient forests. These lands belong to the Tolaki people, who depend on the trees for their traditional way of life.
Reporters traced the metal from Indonesian mines to a refinery in Morowali. From there, processed nickel was sent to Chinese factories owned by Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt. Huayou supplies CATL, the biggest battery producer in the world. CATL then sells battery parts to major automotive brands, including Volkswagen, Ford, and Tesla.
One mining firm, Sulawesi Cahaya Mineral, received penalties for clearing more than 450 hectares of forest outside its approved . While car companies say they follow strict rules for buying materials, many refused to share the results of their supply checks.
Level 3 · Real news English
Electric vehicles emit far fewer greenhouse gases than petrol cars, but the global race to produce them is driving serious deforestation. A joint media has revealed that battery materials used by brands such as Volkswagen, Tesla, and Ford are linked to the clearing of rainforests in Indonesia.
The findings center on Sulawesi, an Indonesian island with the world’s largest nickel reserves. Nickel is a vital cathode that extends an electric vehicle’s range. However, satellite analysis reveals that concessions like the Cahaya and Hengjaya mines have caused widespread forest loss on lands inhabited by the Tolaki people. Wadimula, a local elder living near the Cahaya site, warned that ruining the forest destroys the community’s way of life.
Reporters tracked the supply chain across several countries. Raw ore from the mines is refined into mixed hydroxide precipitate at an industrial complex in Morowali. In 2024 and 2025, over one billion dollars’ worth of this intermediate product was exported to Chinese manufacturing plants operated by Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt. Huayou supplies battery cells to CATL, the global battery giant, which in turn delivers components to major car assembly plants across Europe and the United States.
The investigation noted significant regulatory problems. Sulawesi Cahaya Mineral, the operator of the Cahaya concession, was after clearing more than 450 hectares of forest beyond permitted . Furthermore, spatial data shows mining may account for two-thirds of the tree loss in that area since 2001.
In response, several automotive manufacturers stated that they do not buy nickel directly and require their partners to to ethical standards. Nevertheless, companies like Volkswagen acknowledged they could not rule out links to these Indonesian mines, and most firms declined to publish independent audit records.
Words to learn
- investigation — تحقیقات (tehqeeqat): an official or careful search for the truth “The police launched an investigation into the bank robbery.”
- indigenous — مقامی (maqami): naturally living or originating in a specific place “The museum displayed art created by indigenous groups.”
- deposits — ذخائر (zakhair): natural layers of minerals or metals in the earth “Workers found rich coal deposits under the mountains.”
- ancestral — آبائی (aabai): belonging to or inherited from family members of the past “She returned to visit her ancestral village after thirty years.”
- boundaries — حدود (hudood): lines that mark the edge or limit of an area “The river marks the natural boundaries between the two districts.”
- sanctioned — سزا یافتہ (saza yafta): punished for breaking an official rule or law “The company was sanctioned for dumping toxic waste into the sea.”
- component — جزو (juzw): one part of a larger machine or system “An engineer replaced a damaged component inside the computer.”
- adhere — پابندی کرنا (pabandi karna): to follow or obey a rule, belief, or agreement “All drivers must adhere to speed limits on the highway.”
Quick quiz
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Where are the nickel mines mentioned in the report located?
- Sulawesi, Indonesia
- Tokyo, Japan
- Munich, Germany
- Quzhou, China
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Why is nickel used in electric car batteries?
- It makes the vehicle lighter
- It boosts energy density and increases driving range
- It keeps the car engine cool
- It replaces the rubber in car tires
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What does the word 'indigenous' mean in the story?
- Brought in from another country
- Working for a large international firm
- Naturally living or originating in a specific place
- Living only in large modern cities
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Why did Sulawesi Cahaya Mineral receive administrative sanctions?
- It refused to sell metal to foreign carmakers
- It failed to transport ore on schedule
- It did not build enough worker housing
- It cleared over 450 hectares of forest outside permitted boundaries
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What does the word 'adhere' mean in the context of company standards?
- To follow or obey an agreement or rule
- To quickly change a business plan
- To ignore warnings from inspectors
- To argue against new regulations