Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo said on Thursday that Indonesia will improve monitoring of environmental standards for nickel mining, Reuters reports.

The announcement comes amid concerns over the impacts of producing the metal, which is used increasingly in electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

Indonesia has the largest nickel reserves in the world. Widodo has said that the country will step up scrutiny of its mining operations by ordering companies to manage plant nurseries to aid reforestation efforts.

“The most important thing is monitoring. The management control system must be strengthened. Routine evaluations must be conducted,” Widodo said during an interview with Reuters at the nickel mining town of Sorowako on Sulawesi Island.  He added that he would ensure all miners follow international best practice.

He also said that he would only permit new smelter permits if they are powered by renewable energy sources. He added that existing facilities currently using coal power will receive deadlines to switch to their energy sources to renewables.

Nickel mining and smelting has become a major part of Indonesia’s economy, with billions of dollars of global investment flowing into the country after its government banned exports of unprocessed ore in 2020.

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