Representatives of ITS and PT Vale Indonesia while visiting Akademi Teknik Soroako, which is planned to be the location of the first Electric Motor Conversion Workshop in Sulawesi

ITS Campus, ITS News — Following up on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PT Vale Indonesia, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) explored cooperation in Soroako, South Sulawesi, on Tuesday (10/12). Exploration is a step toward supporting the transition to green energy.

Located at PT Vale Indonesia’s processing plant, the event was attended by several representatives from ITS, PT Vale Indonesia, and Yayasan Pendidikan Soroako (YPS). ITS Vice Rector IV for Research, Innovation, Cooperation, and Alumni Affairs, Prof Agus Muhamad Hatta ST MSi PhD explained that this MoU aims to encourage the electrification of motorized vehicles in the Soroako area for a sustainable green industry.

Furthermore, the man, who is familiarly called Hatta, added that ITS and PT Vale Indonesia would realize the motor vehicle electrification program in Soroako. Through this collaboration, ITS will help establish the first conversion workshop in Sulawesi to accelerate the implementation of vehicle electrification. “This will be a strategic step in supporting environmental sustainability and energy efficiency in the community,” he added.

Hatta said the cooperation will last three years, from 2024 to 2027. ITS targets various achievements each year, such as assisting the vehicle conversion process of the surrounding community and evaluating electric vehicles within PT Vale Indonesia. In addition, the construction of a conversion workshop at the Soroako Technical Academy is expected to support education in the region.

ITS Vice Rector IV Prof Agus Muhamad Hatta ST MSi PhD (second from left) with representatives from ITS and PT Vale Indonesia in Soroako, South Sulawesi

Apart from the community aspect, the ITS Engineering Physics Department lecturer revealed that this collaboration has prepared a scheme for ITS lecturers and students. Future research and practical work opportunities at PT Vale Indonesia will be open to ITS academics. “This opportunity is expected to increase the opportunities for ITS graduates to participate there,” Hatta said enthusiastically.

collaboration between ITS and PT Vale Indonesia in supporting environmental sustainability and electrification-based technology development. According to him, this collaboration can open up opportunities for research and innovation in vehicle electrification and ecological management. “This is a strategic step to support sustainability programs based on empirical research,” he said.

Through this collaboration, ITS and PT Vale Indonesia hope to accelerate the transition to clean energy and positively impact the surrounding community. This cooperation is also a bridge between the academic and industrial worlds. It ensures that research results can be applied directly, such as establishing an electric motor conversion workshop in Soroako.

The activity was also attended by ITS Automotive Innovation Cluster Manager Prof Dr Bambang Sudarmanta and Bambang Piscesca PhD as ITS Civil Engineering lecturer who is an YPS Soroako High School alumnus. On this occasion, introducing the ITS campus was also socialized for students and teachers at YPS Soroako High School. (ITS Public Relations)

Reporter : Aghnia Tias Salsabila
Translator: Lael Soebakir