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PLN Gradually Recovers Electricity Supply (0)
State-owned electricity firm PT PLN has recovered electric power to Balaraja Extra High Voltage substation in Banten Province, and furthermore it will be channeled to Suralaya steam-fueled power plant (PLTU) to gradually recover its operation to reach its capacity of 2800 MW of electricity.
In addition, power supply from Gandul Extra High Voltage substations in Depok, West Java Province, will be channeled to Muara Karang gas and steam power plant (PLTGU) to supply electricity to the Indonesian capital city, Jakarta.
Acting President Director of PLN Sripeni Inten Cahyani said here on Sunday that the power supply to Jakarta was expected to recover within three hours.
"We apologize for the inconvenience today, and currently all efforts have been made to recover the Java-Bali power system, especially in the area of West Java, Banten, and Jakarta," Cahyani said.
The company has focused on power supply to PLTGU Muara Karang and PLTGU Priok to recover the system in the capital city.
Previously, PLN has recovered the operation of hydro-generated power plant (PLTA) Saguling and PLTA Cirata which are functioned as power stabilizer, and, at the same time, supply the electricity to PLTU Suralaya through Cibinong, Depok, Gandul, Lengkok, Balaraja and Suralaya extra high voltage substations.
PLTU Suralaya is expected to return to its normal operation within six hours to normalize power system in West Java and Banten.
Blackout that affected thousands of homes and public facilities in West Java, Jakarta, and Banten was caused by several troubles in the extra high voltage 500 kV transmission of Ungaran - Pemalang.
"PLN has taken its best efforts and will have evaluation to prevent recurrence of today's incident," Cahyani said.
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December
US to intensify security in Indo-Pacific: Blinken
Written by Nur Yasmin
Visiting US State Secretary Antony J. Blinken avowed his country's commitment to intensifying security in the Indo-Pacific along with allies and partners.
"We will bolster security in the Indo-Pacific. Threats are evolving, and our security approach must evolve with them. To do that, we will lean on our greatest strengths, which are our alliances and partnerships," Blinken remarked while delivering an address at the University of Indonesia, Depok, West Java, on Tuesday.
The U.S. will adopt an “integrated deterrence” strategy that more closely weaves together all US instruments of national power, with those of US allies and partners, according to Blinken.
"Our enhanced trilateral partnership with Australia and the United Kingdom (AUKUS) is a prime example, as it will advance our strategic interests, uphold the international rules-based order, and promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific," he remarked.
Blinken noted that President Biden had told President Xi Jinping of China that the two leaders share a profound responsibility to ensure that competition between both nations did not veer into conflict.
"Diplomacy will continue to be our tool of first resort in meeting that responsibility of ensuring the potential for conflict in the region is minimized, managed, and ultimately deterred," he affirmed.
"The United States recognizes that much of our planet’s future will be written in the Indo-Pacific. Our enduring commitment to this region and our collaboration with our allies and partners will help us to achieve a free and open, interconnected, prosperous, resilient, and secure region for all," Blinken added. (Antaranews)
December
Indonesia, US to intensify mutually beneficial cooperation
Written by Nur Yasmin
The governments of Indonesia and the United States are committed to continuing to enhance concrete cooperation that is mutually beneficial and respectful.
“The US is Indonesia's strategic partner. With the several values shared by the two countries, it is believed that concrete strategic partnerships will continue to strengthen," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi remarked while delivering a press statement with visiting US State Secretary Antony Blinken here on Tuesday.
On the occasion, the two countries signed three memoranda of understanding (MoU) in the fields of maritime affairs, education, and the Peace Corps Program initiated by the US to boost people-to-people contact.
Extension of the MoU on maritime cooperation, valid until 2026, includes cooperation in maritime security, marine resources, fisheries conservation and management, as well as maritime safety and navigation.
"Meanwhile, in order to strengthen cooperation in the security field, we have agreed to establish a 2+2 dialogue mechanism between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense at the senior official level," she affirmed.
Indonesia and the US also reaffirmed their commitment to boosting trade and investment cooperation.
The Indonesia-US bilateral trade figure reached US$29.6 billion (around Rp424 trillion) during the January-October 2021 period, an increase of 33.9 percent, from the corresponding period last year.
In 2020, the US investment in Indonesia was recorded at US$749.7 million (approximately Rp10.7 trillion). Meanwhile, during the January-September 2021 period, the investment value reached US$1.3 billion (around Rp18.6 trillion), an increase of 73 percent within a period of nine months.
"Indonesia has also expressed hope that the US would continue to provide GSP facilities. Investment opportunities in Indonesia are very wide open in the fields of health, digital, and energy transition," Marsudi noted.
The minister referred to the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), specifically the import duty tariff exemption program provided by the US for developing countries.
As a follow-up to the Supply Chain Summit in Glasgow, a high-level conference attended by Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the invitation of US President Joe Biden, Indonesia proposed the establishment of a Supply Chain Task Force.
In the field of development, Indonesia lauded the US commitment in the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact-2 for sustainable development projects in Indonesia, specifically green economy development, digitalization, access to funding as well as gender equality, and funding for women's MSMEs.
At a bilateral meeting with Blinken, Marsudi lauded the US support for Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the donation of 25.4 million doses of vaccine that the US provided to Indonesia through the COVAX Facility.
The minister also expressed hope that in the long term, the two countries could develop cooperation for the development of mRNA technology vaccines.
Blinken was on a visit to Indonesia on December 13-14, 2021, aimed at affirming the RI-US strategic partnership and the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
His agenda in Jakarta included meetings with President Jokowi and Minister Marsudi as well as delivering a speech on the US policies at the University of Indonesia. (Antaranews)
December
Omicron variant more contagious, but symptoms mild: minister
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Omicron variant can spread more quickly but has low severity, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment and coordinator of Java-Bali mobility restrictions (PPKM), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, has said.
"Preliminary data from South Africa shows that Omicron variant is indicated to spread faster than the previous type of mutation. However, Omicron is indicated to have a low level of severity," he said at an online press conference on Monday.
The low level of severity is reflected in the number of hospitalized cases and the low death rate, Pandjaitan explained.
"Though people must pay attention that the mortality rate is a lagged indicator," he added.
Pandjaitan also confirmed that until now, no cases linked to the Omicron variant have been detected in Indonesia.
"Until today, based on the information provided by the Health Ministry from the results of genome sequencing that is continuously being carried out, no cases of the Omicron variant have been found in Indonesia," he remarked.
However, the government will continue to evaluate the quarantine process for foreign travelers to ensure that quarantine is carried out properly, the minister said.
One of the policies that will be implemented is a change in the status of foreign travelers' PeduliLindungi application, which will turn black during their quarantine period, he elaborated.
"Based on data from Angkasa Pura airport operator, there was a significant increase of up to two times flights to overseas destinations under normal conditions," Pandjaitan informed.
Therefore, the government is carefully anticipating their return from overseas by continuing and imposing a 10-day quarantine, he added.
"The government reminds the public not to go abroad except for urgent interests," he said.
The government also continues to increase the capacity of quarantine hotels to anticipate an increase in the number of people returning or visiting Indonesia from abroad, he informed.
"The quarantine policy for foreign travelers will continue to be evaluated in accordance with the development of the Omicron variant," he added. (antaranews)
December
Ministry, Turkish firms discuss toll road, housing development
Written by Nur Yasmin
Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono discussed potential cooperation in toll road and housing development with representatives of Turkish companies at the ministry’s headquarters in Jakarta on Monday.
He was accompanied by the Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey, Lalu Muhammad Iqbal.
"We are looking forward to the participation of Turkish enterprises in development programs in Indonesia,” Hadimuljono remarked in a written statement released the same day.
He said he expected the meeting to strengthen the two countries’ bilateral cooperation and help Indonesia to realize its infrastructure development projects.
There is a lot of investment potential between Indonesia and Turkey, he added.
Turkish construction companies are some of the best global contractors and have successfully executed 10,725 projects in 128 countries worth US$424.5 billion, he noted.
Most of the projects have involved the construction of housing, roads, bridges, and tunnels in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, he added.
The minister then urged Turkish corporations to invest in infrastructure sectors in Indonesia through both Public-Private Partnership (KPBU) as well as Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) schemes.
The meeting was a follow-up to a previous meeting held in early November 2021 at the office of the Turkish Trade Ministry and a direct visit to Ankara-Nide Toll Road in Ankara city, Turkey, he informed.
"I lauded Turkey for its success in developing Ankara city as its capital city. When I visited the country, I noted the similarities in geography, topography, and environment of Ankara city and our new capital city (IKN) in East Kalimantan province,” Hadimuljono added.
Hence, he said he believed that sustainable cooperation between the two countries must be maintained so that Indonesia can achieve the same success in developing its new IKN.
At a business forum with State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), also held the same day, he suggested further discussions with Turkish companies on prospective infrastructure projects and investment in the construction of toll roads and housing in Indonesia.
He proposed a joint direct visit to a toll road project in Pekanbaru city, Riau province, Jambi-Rengat and Rengat-Pekanbaru (Pekanbaru - Siak) sections of the Trans Sumatra toll road spanning 282.7 kilometers (km), sections III and IV of IKN Access Toll Road projects stretching over 33.76 km, as well as a KPBU schemed housing project in Zone 1A of IKN for 11,268 residential units (to be built in 2021 to 2024).
Indonesian Ambassador Iqbal informed that currently, there are two Turkish corporations that are interested in Indonesian development projects.
The first company focuses on toll road construction, while the second is the world’s second-largest corporation making prefabricated housing, he said.
"The Turkish companies have discussed with the director general of infrastructure financing. They will also visit toll roads in Sumatra Island to help in restructuring and inviting investors," the ambassador added. (antaranews)
December
Indonesia's bubble protocols in G20 draw acclaim from countries
Written by Nur Yasmin
Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan highlighted that the bubble health protocol implementation in Indonesia during the sherpa and finance tracks of the G20 Presidency drew applause from several countries.
"I received a report that our bubble health protocols in G20 were very well-liked by various countries," Pandjaitan stated during an online press conference on Monday.
The bubble protocol is a limitation on the mobility and interaction of participants and event organizers to not leave the event location in an effort to minimize contact with outside parties.
The bubble protocol is currently often used during face-to-face events in various parts of the world to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Pandjaitan noted that ministries and agencies, including Bank Indonesia, as the committee on the G20 sherpa track and finance track, brought several Macro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the bubble area.
Several delegates from G20 countries shopped for Indonesian MSMEs products, such as coffee, batik cloth, and other unique products from regions in Indonesia.
"It is a good promotion for MSME, and it also proves that they value our bubble, and they appreciate it," Pandjaitan stated.
Managing Director of the World Bank Mari Pangestu also praised the committee's readiness in implementing strict health protocols during the event.
"I checked with Mari Pangestu, and she really lauds Indonesia's steps in G20 as well as the revival of our MSME," Pandjaitan noted.
As was earlier known, Indonesia, as the holder of the G20 Presidency, has started two tracks of discussion on G20 issues: the Finance Track and the Sherpa Track on December 6. Various online and face-to-face meetings are being held by implementing strict health protocols.
The G20 is a global forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union (EU) that covers 60 percent of the world's population, accounts for 80 percent of the world's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and 75 percent of world exports.
Indonesia holds the G20 Presidency from December 1, 2021, to November 30, 2022, taking up the leadership from Italy. (antaranews)
December
GATF to boost tourism industry recovery: Tourism Minister
Written by Nur Yasmin
Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said the Garuda Indonesia Travel Fair (GATF) Hybrid 2021, organized jointly by the state bank BNI and flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, would boost tourism industry recovery.
The event was expected to encourage workers absorption, Uno said in a statement here on Sunday.
"We will continue to support positive moves initiated by Garuda Indonesia and BNI to encourage national tourism recovery. Of course, the event will help the recovery of tourism sector and workers absorption," he remarked.
The minister said, Indonesia is among five countries with top level security to cope with the coronavirus pandemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Local tourism operators have improved services and achieved the Cleanliness, Healthy, Safety, dan Environmental Sustainability (CHSE) certificate.
"We hope this will improve public trust in tourism. But surely, this must be balanced with the implementation of health protocols in all aspects of the tourism sector," he added.
Vice President Director of BNI Adi Sulistyowati said GATF is a proactive move of BNI and Garuda to improve public trust amid the pandemic.
"This synergy is expected to revive the tourism industry, hence the national economy would also recover," she added. (Antaranews)
December
Jakarta Gov't schedules COVID-19 vaccination for children next week
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Jakarta Provincial Government has scheduled COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 6 to 11 years next week, Jakarta's Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria said in Condet, East Jakarta, on Sunday.
Jakarta's Health Service is ready to conduct COVID-19 vaccination for children, according to him.
"When it comes to vaccination for children aged beetween 6 and 11 years, Insyaallah (God Willing) the Health Service is ready next week and is waiting for the regulation from the Ministry of Health," he informed.
When the Ministry of Health issued the regulation, the vaccination for children would be carried out immediately, he added.
"Hopefully, the regulation will be unveiled and issued next week," he remarked.
Earlier, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian has allowed regions to administer COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 to 11 years starting from December 24, 2021.
This is stipulated in the Home Affairs Minister's Instruction No. 66 of 2021 on Prevention and Mitigation of Corona Virus Disease 2019 on Christmas 2021 and New Year 2022.
The regulation is an instruction to regional heads on health protocol measures during Christmas 2021 and New Year 2022 from December 24, 2021, to January 2, 2022. One of the contents concerns children vaccination.
It orders regions to could carry out vaccination for children by fulfilling several criteria, one of them is that the regions should at least achieve the 70 percent of the first dose vaccination target.
The regions should also reach at least 60 percent of the first dose vaccination for the elderly .
Based on the Ministry of Health's data, as of December 11, a total of 102.445.257 Indonesians have received the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. (Antaranews)
December
Ministry to integrate Batam, Bintan, Karimun development
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Industry Ministry would integrate the development and management of the Batam, Bintan and Karimun (BBK) areas in Riau Islands Province, that have great potential and play an important role in accelerating the national economic recovery.
"The government will integrate the development and management of the BBK area. This integration will include the development of the industrial sector and strategic services that are mutually supportive," the ministry's Director General of Industry Resilience, Territorial and International Industry Access (KPAII) Eko SA Cahyanto said in a statement here, Saturday.
In addition, Cahyanto continued, the areas would be supported by integrated infrastructure development, as well as synchronized regulations on investment licensing, facilities and ease of investing.
Based on the development master plan, the BBK area would be divided into different themes.
Batam will become an international logistics hub, especially for e-commerce, aerospace industry, light and valuable industry for opto-electronics and home appliances, digital and creative industries, international trade and finance centers, and integrated health tourism.
Bintan will be developed for international tourism, MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) industry, transportation industry, food processing industry, maritime and defense industry, and sports industry.
While Karimun will be developed for maritime industry, oil tanking and refinery industry, agri-tech industry, seafood processing industry, and tourism.
In particular, the ministry has encouraged the development of halal industry in the Bintan Inti Industrial Estate area, which has been designated by the Industry Minister as a halal industrial area.
"With the huge potential for halal industry, we hope that industrial estates in the region can contribute to increasing Indonesia's competitiveness at the global level," Cahyanto said.
Furthermore, the ministry continues to work hard to solve various challenges in the development of industrial estates in Riau Islands Province, especially the BBK area.
"We have proposed competitive gas price adjustment, waste management facility, and acceleration of business licensing for the industrial sector and industrial estates," he said.
The government, he said, has set gas price for certain industries at US$6 per MMBTU. It is currently proposing the same tariff for all industrial sectors, including for industrial estates.
"In relation to waste management, we also support the plan of the Ladi Island Industrial Estate to build an integrated waste processing industry in Riau Islands that can be a solution to the problems of industrial waste and industrial estates in this region," he added.
According to Cahyanto, cooperation and coordination with relevant stakeholders such as local governments, associations and industry players, industrial estate operators, and business entities in the region are needed, in order to maintain industrial performance and increase investment in the province.
"This spirit must also be supported by the commitment of the industrial estates operators in Riau Islands who are actively preparing permits, developing infrastructure, as well as marketing and operations of the estates," he said. (Antaranews)
December
President upbeat about Indonesian sharia economy's prospects
Written by nuke
A screenshot of President Joko Widodo addressing the second Muslim Economic Congress in Jakarta on Friday (December 10, 2021). (ANTARA/Indra Arief) -
President Joko Widodo has said he is optimistic about the prospects of the Indonesian sharia economy.
“Our sharia economy, which was ranked ninth in 2014, has grown to the fourth largest in the world in 2020-2021,” he noted while opening the second Muslim Economic Congress in Jakarta on Friday.
More than 1,300 participants joined the opening ceremony of the congress, with 250 participating in person and 1,250 others online. Deputy chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Anwar Abbas, also attended the opening ceremony.
“According to my forecast, Insya Allah (God Willing), in the next three to four years, it will be the second or largest (in the world) if it grows as we look at it now,” he said.
The President said he is optimistic about the Indonesian sharia economy increasingly expanding in the next six to seven years thanks to the nation's large Muslim population.
“With the world’s largest Muslim population reaching 87 percent or 207 million of the total population, we have committed ourselves to becoming a hub for sharia economy in 2024, and we will try hard to achieve it,” he remarked.
In addition to the sharia financial industry, the President also touched upon halal industry development.
“We will encourage the development of the sharia financial sector, the development of the sharia social financial sector, and the development of sharia entrepreneurship since we are a country with the largest Muslim population in the world,” he said.
In this regard, Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) will serve not only large customers but also small customers, he added.
“The large, the small, the medium to become large, BSI will serve all of them. BSI is now one of the eight large banks with stronger capital. We hope the large banks will serve the halal industry, halal tourism, and halal products which have a very large market share,” Widodo said.
Moreover, since December 1, 2021, Indonesia has assumed the Presidency of the G20, he added.
“This means that we are the chair of large countries, developed countries, which are in the top twenty list (in terms) of gross domestic product (GDP). We are now ranked 16th. But as Buya has stated, Insya Allah (God willing), we will be one of the four largest (economies), according to the calculations of McKinsey, the World Bank, and IMF,” he said.
Though Indonesia is predicted to become the world’s fourth-largest economy, the challenge will not be easy, he added.
“The challenge will not be easy. There are some conditions to achieve it since our per capita income in 2040-2045 must be US$23 thousand to US$27 thousand. That is a huge figure,” he remarked//ANT
December
Indonesia to balance global, domestic agenda during G20 Presidency: BI
Written by Nur Yasmin
The priority lists and legacy issues of Indonesia's G20 Presidency will balance the global agenda with domestic priorities and interests, Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Perry Warjiyo has said.
"It will also align many parties' interests, both from developed and developing countries," Warjiyo told the press in Nusa Dua, Bali on Thursday.
The alignment of different interests will be realized during Indonesia's G20 Presidency through the meeting of Finance and Central Bank Deputies (FCBD), he said.
According to Warjiyo, the meeting, which is part of the Finance Track, is key to ensuring the sustainability of the G20 leadership in supporting global economic recovery in the short and long term.
The priority agenda of the G20 Finance Track also relates to BI's duties, such as international cooperation in the normalization of the monetary policy, he added.
There is also the implementation of regulations in the finance sector that must observe its readiness, digitization of payment systems, and Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), the governor said.
Warjiyo then detailed some of Indonesia's to-do lists during the G20 Presidency that will continue to focus on a number of legacy issues.
These issues, he pointed out, include the risk integration of the pandemic and the climate through the Global Financial Safety Net (GFSN).
The legacy issues also encompass the matter of increasing capital flows, proceeding with data gap initiatives, improving the reform of financial sector regulations, and strengthening the transparency and management of debt, he said.
Furthermore, the agenda will cover dialogues on accelerating sustainable and inclusive infrastructure development and optimizing financing support from multilateral development banks (MDBs), he added.
Finally, according to Warjiyo, the Finance Track will discuss strengthening the capacity of health systems in preventing and responding to pandemics.
It will also deliberate on continuing support to attract private sector investment in low-income countries in the African region, he added. (Antaranews)