Jakarta, June 24 -- Indonesia is expanding its electric-vehicle strategy beyond battery production, focusing on recycling and waste management as policymakers seek to build a sustainable battery ecosystem and secure long-term supplies of critical minerals.

Managing used batteries has become a growing priority as Indonesia accelerates electric-vehicle adoption and develops downstream industries linked to its vast mineral resources.

"This is a pressing issue because our focus is not only industrial development, but also how battery waste is managed," Atong Soekirman said at the Korea-Indonesia Economic Partnership Forum in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Atong serves as assistant deputy for metal, machinery, transportation equipment, electronics a...