JAKARTA, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Indonesia plans to export

nickel-based material used to make electric vehicle batteries to

the United States next month, its energy minister said on

Friday.

Bahlil Lahadalia said Indonesia would provide the material,

known as EV battery precursor, to U.S. electric carmaker Tesla

, but did not give details on the volume involved.

"We will export precursor to the U.S. by next month to

Tesla, from Weda Bay," Bahlil said.

Previously, Indonesia has reported exporting EV precursor to

China.

Indonesia aims to develop its EV industry and has for years

been wooing Tesla to invest in battery making and car

manufacturing in the country, trying to leverage its rich

reserves of nickel, which can be processed for use in EV

batteries.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.