VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

While Indonesia’s renewable energy potential is estimated at 3,686 gigawatts (GW), only 0.3 percent, or 11.5 GW, of this potential has been utilized as of 2021, according to the Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ministry.

Hence, Indonesia must increase its new and renewable energy (EBT) mix since it has large and diverse EBT potentials, expert staff to the ESDM minister for strategic planning, Yudo Dwinanda Priaadi, said during a webinar on “Energy Transition Towards Net Zero Emission (NZE) 2060,” which was followed online from here on Friday.

There is a great opportunity for Indonesia to optimize existing resources by increasing the portion of the EBT mix, he added.

"Another attempt is to set a green RUPTL (Electricity Supply Business Plan) of (state-owned electricity provider) PLN targeting to add 20.9 GW of EBT (mix) capacity until 2030. The development of EBT will be carried out by paying attention to the electricity power balance in Indonesia," he noted.

Furthermore, a number of breakthroughs for increasing the EBT mix have been implemented. They include encouraging the development of green products in the service and industry sector, for example, the processing of biomass waste into fuel for power plants.

In addition, Indonesia is pursuing a diesel power plant conversion program under which 5,200 diesel power plants across Indonesia with a total capacity of 2.37 GW will be transformed into EBT power plants.

The government has also started to carry out the road test of B40 biodiesel fuel on 12 different types of vehicles.

The government is also targeting to get Steam-Fired Power Plants (PLTUs) to implement co-firing technology by utilizing 10.2 million tons of biomass substitution fuel.

Geothermal exploration will also be conducted to realize the NZE target by 2060 in 20 working areas with a total resource of 1,869 megawatts (MW).

Currently, the government is increasing the development of off-grid EBT electricity infrastructure, such as solar-powered street lighting, Priaadi said.

"Rooftop solar power plants are also the main focus of the (development program of the) government. Moreover, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has prepared a sustainable energy grant to attract more users to utilize green electricity," he added. (Antaranews)

The Queen of England, Elizabeth II has passed away at 96 years old on Thursday, 8 September 2022, the Ambassador of UK, Owen Jenkins, stated in a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Friday.

“This is a moment of profound grief and loss for the people of the United Kingdom and for those all around the world whose lives she touched,” the release stated.

“Her exceptional dedication to serving the people of the UK and to our global relationships, including with Indonesia, made Her our greatest diplomat,” Jenkins continued.

King Charles III, the eldest and only son of the late Queen is the next to continue the country’s monarch leadership.

“Her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world”, King Charles III said to the press.

“On behalf of the British Government I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Indonesia for all the messages of condolence that we have received in the past few hours,” the release stated. (VOI)

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment  Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has praised the hospitality and enthusiasm of the Belitung community in welcoming G20 delegates.

"Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan highly commends the hospitality and enthusiasm of the community in welcoming the G20 delegates," acting governor of Bangka Belitung Islands, Ridwan Djamaluddin, said here on Thursday.

The praise for the participation and hospitality of the Belitung people was conveyed directly by the G20 delegates in Belitung Island, he added.

"Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan asked me directly, what are you doing so that the community participates in maintaining and making the G20 successful," Djamaluddin said.

According to him, the people of Belitung Island are very proud to be hosting the delegatesand have prepared for a long time in order to be good hosts so that the delegates from abroad are safe, comfortable, and want to linger in Belitung.

"The people here are friendly and open. They want the delegates after the G20 to return to visit Belitung Island," he said.

The hospitality shown by the Belitung people has been no less than that of Bali and Lombok residents in welcoming the delegates and tourists, he added.

"This is one of the important values and this can be seen from the enthusiasm of school children in Belitung waving flags along the road to welcome the G20 delegates," he said.

Delegates participating in the G20 Development Ministerial Meeting on September 7–9, 2022, in Belitung district, Bangka Belitung Islands province, began to arrive at H.A.S. Hanandjoeddin International Airport on Monday (September 5, 2022).

"They began to arrive yesterday, including those from Japan, while delegates from Singapore arrived today (September 6),” Belitung vice district head Isyak Meirobie informed in Tanjung Pandan on Tuesday.

Delegates attending the meeting are expected to continue to arrive until September 7, he said.

"September 6 and 7 is the arrival schedule," he added.

Upon their arrival in Belitung, the delegates went straight to the venue of the meeting under a tight escort provided by officers from the traffic directorate of the Bangka Belitung Islands Provincial Police.

"On their way, the delegates will also receive a warm welcome from students of schools they will pass through to the venue," Meirobie said.

The G20 Development Ministerial Meeting, which is being organized under the Indonesian G20 Presidency, aims to discuss developmental issues in developing countries, least developed countries, and island countries.

The meeting will take place in the province's special economic zone for the tourism industry. (Antaranews)

Digital mangrove planting tourism conducted by the community in Sungai Kupah Village, Kubu Raya District, West Kalimantan, has become a strategy for developing the blue economy.

At the G20 Development Ministerial Meeting (G20 DMM) event titled "Showcasing Session of Blue Economy Initiatives in Belitung" held on Thursday, one of the groups that presented its efforts related to the blue economy is the Digital Mangrove Planting Tourism, led by Rudi Hartono.

"Digital mangrove planting is where tourists can plant (mangroves) in our tourist site, and we will (provide) the coordinates of the tree (location)," Hartono remarked.

He explained that Sungai Kupah is a coastal village by Natuna Sea, and there is a mangrove forest that forms into a fortress that protects the village.

Unfortunately, during the period from 2000 to 2017, the mangrove forest was affected by abrasion, thereby making the village prone to high waves and floods.

This condition drove Hartono and young people in the village to innovate to improve the mangrove ecosystem that can provide added value to the local economy at the same time.

"We have been discussing abrasion in this village since 2017 until we have a joint commitment to conducting the reforestation of our mangrove forest," he explained.

Hence, he launched the digital mangrove planting activity wherein tourists can plant mangroves either on-site or through the committee.

Later, the planted mangroves will be determined by their coordinates, so tourists can monitor the growth and development of the trees online.

Tourists will also be invited to attend the commemoration of World Mangrove Day at the Sungai Kupah Village.

Apart from taking care of mangroves, Hartono and his team also nurture the environment as the mangrove planting and seeding process uses organic matter and eco-polybags made of nipah (Nypa fruticans) leaves. (Antaranews)