VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Arifin Tasrif, on Monday revealed several long-term strategies for achieving the carbon neutral or net-zero emissions target in the energy sector by 2060.

“In the energy sector, we target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, or faster, with international assistance with a number of strategies. First, through the development of massive new and renewable energy (EBT)," Tasrif said at a webinar on ‘Indonesia-Norway Investment Opportunities in Hydro and Solar Energy in Indonesia’, organized by the Indonesian Embassy in Oslo.

Such new and renewable energy development would entail the use of solar panels, wind, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, marine, hydrogen, as well as Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), he elaborated.

The ministry’s second strategy for cutting emissions is reducing the utilization of fossil energy sources by co-firing biomass and retiring steam power plants (PLTU) and gas and steam power plants (PLTGU), he said.

"The last PLTU will be terminated in 2058 and PLTGU in 2054," he informed.

During that period, no new PLTU will be permitted, unless a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) has already been inked or the plant is under construction, he said.

Indonesia’s reliance on fossil energy sources can be reduced by converting diesel generators into new and renewable energy plants, he suggested.

The development of transmission interconnection and smart electricity networks could also help cut emissions, he said.

The ministry’s final strategy would be to continue to encourage the use of electric vehicles to meet its target of putting 2 million electric cars and 1.3 million electric motorcycles on Indonesian roads by 2030, he added.

Indonesia is aiming to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 834 million tons by 2030. The energy sector is also expected to reduce carbon emissions by 314 million tons with its own capabilities and 398 million tons with international assistance.

As of 2020, the reduction of carbon emissions in the energy sector reached 64.4 million tons, or 111 percent of the target of 58 million tons. This achievement was realized through use of new and renewable energy, low-carbon fuels, and ensuring energy efficiency, Tasrif said. (Antaranews)