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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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November
Indonesia-Saudi Arabia discussions on umrah regulation to commence
Written by Nur Yasmin
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto confirmed to Indonesia having received a diplomatic note from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding discussions centering around holding umrah.
"We can start the discussion regarding umrah. This is particularly to resume the umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia from Indonesia once the condition has been set by the two parties," Hartarto, concurrently head of the COVID-19 and National Economy Recovery Handling Team, noted during an online press conference, Tuesday.
The minister later expounded that Saudi Arabia initially only recognized the COVID-19 vaccines they used: AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson.
Later, Saudi Arabia allowed the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines in the country, completed by a vaccine booster.
However, the vaccine booster in Indonesia can only be administered in January 2022 since the government still has to pursue the target of injecting the first vaccine dose to 70 percent of the community and the second dose to 40 percent of the community.
"Responding to this matter, the religious affairs minister will conduct diplomacy with its Saudi partners and will immediately send a team this week," he remarked.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin will thereafter also communicate with the Ministry in Saudi Arabia to elaborate on the condition of COVID-19 handling in Indonesia that is under control and has received level 1 recognition from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Likewise, several countries, such as Australia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates, have also recognized the effectiveness of the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines.
"With various countries having acknowledged (the efficacy of) Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines along with our ability to handle COVID-19 in the country, we hope for umrah pilgrimage to resume in Saudi Arabia," Hartarto noted.
On the same occasion, Chairman of the Hajj and Umrah Travel Agency Association (Forum SATHU) Fuad Hasan Masyhur noted that his meeting with Hartarto aimed to provide inputs and highlight expectations regarding the Hajj and Umrah industry that had not been active for two years.
“The coordinating minister has offered a glimmer of hope, not only to us as an agency but also to the public. By God's will, we will return to the Baitullah," he affirmed. (Antaranews)
November
Netherlands donates personal protective equipment to Indonesia
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Netherlands donated COVID-19 personal protective equipment to Indonesia through the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The donation comprised 5 million surgical masks, 250 thousand isolation coats, 200 thousand aprons, and 100 thousand goggles, according to a press statement issued by Minister Plenipotentiary/ deputy head of mission of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Jakarta, Ardi Stoios-Braken.
The materials will be used for humanitarian response carried out independently by the PMI and the ICRC across Indonesia for the benefit of the Indonesian people, she said.
"The Indonesian government has achieved impressive results in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Large numbers of the population have been fully vaccinated and (public activity restrictions) PPKM measures are gradually being relaxed in locations where the local situation allows for it. The government of the Netherlands is proud to support these efforts and show its solidarity with Indonesia through a donation of medication and vaccines,” she added.
However, there are regions and population groups whose needs have not yet been sufficiently met, she highlighted.
“With the donation of personnel protection materials, we hope to support PMI and ICRC in addressing the COVID-19 response needs of these regions and people,’’ she added.
Meanwhile, PMI chairman Jusuf Kalla informed that COVID-19 in Indonesia has caused approximately 140 thousand deaths, while more than 4 million people have been infected with the virus.
Therefore, support of all nations is needed to help Indonesia win the fight against COVID-19, he added.
“The assistance from the Netherlands Embassy is very useful and we are grateful for it. Although COVID-19 cases in Indonesia are currently decreasing—in contrast to the conditions in July 2021 when the number of new cases reached around 50 thousand per day, the figure is currently down 99 percent as the number of new cases has reached 500 per day—we still have to be vigilant to face the third wave of COVID-19 case spike,” he expounded.
Meanwhile, head of the ICRC regional delegation for Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Alexandre Faite, said that the ICRC, together with the PMI, is endeavoring to assist the Indonesian government’s COVID-19 response.
“We are delighted to support the PMI in distributing the PPEs to different areas in Indonesia. One of the priority concerns includes the vaccination program in the eastern part of Indonesia as we open several vaccination centers in East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, Papua, and West Papua provinces,” he remarked.
Faite lauded the Netherlands for the donation and said he hoped efforts will be scaled up to reach out to more people.
The donation shipped by the Netherlands last September arrived at the Tanjung Priok seaport of Jakarta and will be transported to designated Indonesian Red Cross warehouses across Indonesia, he said. (antaranews)
November
BRIN identifies two new horned frog species in Sumatra
Written by Nur Yasmin
A team from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) led by researcher Amir Hamidy has identified two frog species in Sumatra, namely South-Sumatra Horned Frog (Megophrys selatanensis) and Aceh Horned Frog (Megophrys acehensis).
"Each species of Megophrys in Sumatra possibly has limited distribution," Hamidy noted in a written statement received by ANTARA here on Monday.
He highlighted that out of the five species seen in Sumatra, four are endemic.
In addition to being endemic, Megophrys is found in highlands and lowland forests, he informed.
According to Hamidy, the conversion of forest habitats into palm oil plantations and farming land is the biggest threat to the existence of the species.
Moreover, frogs from the Megophrys genus have a faint morphological diversity, he said.
The two new Megophrys species were successfully identified based on a taxonomy status evaluation by utilizing molecular and morphological data, he informed.
The researcher said that while carrying out a herpetofauna survey across the Barisan Mountains, Sumatra, he found the South Sumatra Megophrys population with smooth back skin that is morphologically similar to M.montana from Java.
In addition, he also found a population with back skin that resembles M.parallela from North Sumatra.
Hamidy said he worked with his collaborators Kanto Nishikawa from Kyoto University, Japan, and Eric N. Smith from the University of Texas at Arlington, US, in identifying the new species.
One of the team members who identified the species, Misbahul Munir, who was also the first to report the findings, noted that the horned frog has a unique characteristic—the tip of its head and its eyelid resemble a horn.
The Megophrys also has another unique trait: its mouth is modified to resemble a wide cone-shaped structure, Munir said.
Currently, there are 13 Megophrys species that are known to be located in Southeast Asia, specifically in Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, and the Philippines, he said.
Kalimantan has a record six species located on the island, he added. (Antaranews)
November
Indonesia's COVID-19 vaccinations top WHO target
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesia's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has surpassed the target set by the World Health Organization (WHO), spokesperson for COVID-19 Vaccinations for the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, has said.
As per the WHO target, countries need to vaccinate at least 40 percent of their population by the end of 2021.
"Indonesia has managed to achieve it (vaccinated 40 percent of its population) faster than the WHO target," Tarmizi said in a written statement received here on Monday.
The WHO had asked all countries to vaccinate at least 10 percent of their population by the end of September 2021, 40 percent of the people by the end of 2021, and 70 percent by mid-2022, she noted.
As of Sunday, Indonesia has administered around 215.6 million vaccine doses and vaccinated 130.3 million people with the first dose and 84.1 million people with the second dose, she informed. The nation is targeting to inoculate 208.2 million under the national immunization program, she said.
Meanwhile, the number of recipients who have received the booster or third dose has reached 1.19 million, she added.
According to Tarmizi, this achievement has been the result of the hard work of all sections of the nation who provided the vaccines and all Indonesian people who participated in the country's vaccination program.
The stock of COVID-19 vaccines in Indonesia as of Saturday (November 13, 2021) stood at 342.5 million doses, both in finished and bulk form, she informed. Indonesia also received 4 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine on Saturday, she said.
Tarmizi then appealed to the public to not doubt or be picky regarding the vaccines used in the national vaccination program. The government guarantees that the vaccines administered to the public are safe, of good quality, and beneficial, she assured.
According to her, COVID-19 vaccines make the body relatively more resistant to the virus, help prevent symptoms and hospitalization, as well as reduce the mortality risk.
"However, it (a vaccine) does not make people 100-percent immune to viral infections, so they can still be infected and infect (other people). For those who have been vaccinated, please continue to follow the 5M health protocols," she remarked. (Antaranews)
November
Indonesia, New Zealand affirm importance of equal access to vaccines
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesia and New Zealand affirm the importance of equity in access to vaccines for all countries to accelerate the process of freeing the world of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The statement was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi following a bilateral meeting with her New Zealand counterpart, Nanaia Mahuta, in Jakarta on Monday.
"I welcome the heightened health cooperation (between the two countries) during the pandemic," said Minister Marsudi at a virtual press briefing.
As part of the cooperation between the two countries during the pandemic, New Zealand provided Indonesia 684,400 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine under the dose-sharing scheme, Marsudi noted. The doses were received last month, she said.
Aside from that, cooperation was also carried out through the Eijkman Molecular Biology Institute to increase COVID-19 testing capabilities, as well as with UNICEF to increase the capacity of public health and medical equipment in Indonesia, she added.
New Zealand demonstrated its support to Indonesia through donations of vaccines as well as ventilators, rapid test kits, and support for the Eijkman Institute, Marsudi said.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister of New Zealand conveyed her appreciation toward her Indonesian counterpart as one of the co-chairs of the COVAX Advance Market Commitment Engagement Group that has played a part in ensuring equal access to vaccines for all nations.
"We agree that close international cooperation is vital, not only in response to the pandemic but also towards economic recovery," said Minister Mahuta.
International cooperation in pandemic handling has become the focus of New Zealand's leadership of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) this year, she noted.
"And I am sure that this will be one of the priority areas for Indonesia in its presidency of the G20 next year," she said.
Aside from bilateral cooperation in health, energy, and economy, the two ministers also discussed regional issues, including the situation in Myanmar and Afghanistan during their meeting.
Indonesia and New Zealand share the same concerns over security and human rights conditions in Afghanistan and Myanmar that are currently facing conflicts, the ministers said.
They also exchanged views on the situation in the Indo-Pacific.
As a dialogue partner to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), New Zealand reaffirmed its commitment towards the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and realizing peace and stability in the region.
"Indo-Pacific is a region that is open for trade and investment, an inclusive region, a region with sovereignty that is respected by all countries, big and small, a region that strives for peace and stability. I reaffirm New Zealand's commitment to the Indo-Pacific and ASEAN as its center, with a region that is based on the law, including UNCLOS," Mahuta said. (Antaranews)
November
Over 84 million Indonesians receive full vaccination: Health Ministry
Written by Nur Yasmin
A total of 84,161,759 Indonesians have received a full dose of COVID-19 vaccination as of Sunday, according to data from the Ministry of Health.
This number has increased by 742,673 compared to the previous day. Meanwhile, the number of people who had received the first dose of vaccination rose by 573,155 to reach 130,283,345..
The data also showed 1,189,235 health workers had received third or booster vaccine doses. Overall, the government is seeking to vaccinate 208,265,720 people against COVID-19.
Previously, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology expressed support for the government's plan to vaccinate children aged 6-11 at school with the COVID-19 vaccine.
"We always support the government's efforts to handle the COVID-19 pandemic, one of which is through the vaccination program and the expansion of vaccination coverage," Acting Bureau of Cooperation and Public Relations of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Anang Ristanto said.
Ristanto added that the vaccination for teachers and students aged 12-18 years which has been carried out previously has become one of the considerations to conduct face-to-face learning (PTM) which has begun on a limited basis.
Vaccination for teachers and students raises hope to welcome a new habit, namely limited face-to-face class held under strict health protocols.
"Evaluation of learning policies continues to be carried out by the government during the pandemic, including distance learning (PJJ). But somehow PJJ cannot be equated with PTM," he conveyed.
If the government was to extend PJJ, the students would potentially experience learning loss or a decrease in learning achievement. PJJ was considered to be less effective, due to the limited family economy and internet network for some students.
"In addition, PJJ in the long term can have several negative impacts on social and psychological development for children, parents, and teachers. This learning method during the pandemic has an impact on several aspects, including the mentality of children and parents," he concluded. (Antaranews)
November
UAE retailer to add 30 hypermarket outlets in Indonesia
Written by Nur Yasmin
An investor from Abu Dhabi, Lulu Group, has planned to add 30 more hypermarkets in the country including Bali in an effort to strengthen its presence in the Indonesian retail sector.
The retail led by Yusuff Ali MA had previously owned five hypermarket in various cities in Indonesia.
"We plan to continue to expand to open 30 other outlets, including in Bali as a major tourist destination," Yusuff Ali said in a statement received here on Sunday (14/11).
The first Lulu Hypermarket at Cakung in Jakarta was inaugurated by Indonesian President Joko Widodo in the Year 2016, he said.
In addition to the retail business, Lulu Group also sources and exports various food and non-food products from Indonesia.
"This includes textiles, fruit and vegetables, fresh and frozen fish, pre-packaged food products, handicrafts, accessories, fashion, and household goods to various countries throughout all Lulu Group retail outlets," Yusuff Ali said.
For the initiative step, he said that the sourcing facilities in Indonesia is partnering with thousands of Indonesian farmers, fishermen, small scale entrepreneurs, medium and large-scale factories.
The group also exports rice, noodles, cookies, potato chips, wafer biscuits and fish products in its own Lulu Brand from Indonesia to all countries in the Middle East region.
Meanwhile, Yusuff Ali MA received the Prima Duta Award from the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, which was one of the highest awards in the country.
The prestigious award is given to recognize contributions made in Indonesia's economic and commercial sector.
The award was given by President Joko Widodo to Yusuff Ali MA at a ceremony held at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi in recognition of Lulu Group's strategic investment in Indonesia.
"I feel proud and humbled to receive one of the highest awards from the Republic of Indonesia. I am very grateful to the President and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia. This recognition will further encourage us to have a strong presence in Indonesia's commercial sector," Yusuff Ali stated. (Antaranews)
November
Indonesia offers infrastructure investment opportunies at Dubai Expo
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesia's Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing offered infrastructure investment opportunities during a business forum at Expo 2020 Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, the ministry said in a press statement here on Sunday.
"Currently there are 24 projects both solicited and unsolicited worth US$19 billion, including 10 Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects worth US$9.2 billion ready to be offered. These projects comprise 9 road projects and 1 dam project, " Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono said in Dubai.
During the business forum, Minister Hadimuljono said entrepreneurs can use two platforms to invest in the infrastructure sector.
The first platform is a Foreign-Owned Limited Liability Company and the second is a Foreign Construction Services Business Entity.
Indonesia needs a budget of US$430 billion, but of the total, only 30 percent can be covered by the State Budget.
For the other 70 percent, the government issued a number of policies such as on creative financing scheme, including tax incentives for new investment, in order to attract investors and remain competitive.
The government also issued Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation, which aims to open up greater opportunities for entrepreneurs to invest in infrastructure in Indonesia.
The Indonesian Pavilion during the seventh week of Expo 2020 Dubai broadcast digital content containing the support of the Ministry of PUPR for the Five Super Priority Tourism Destinations, development of eastern Indonesia, increasing accessibility between regions and developing special areas.
The Five Super Priority Tourism Destinations are part of the government's program to promote ten new Balis. The tourist destinations are Lake Toba, Borobudur Temple, Lombok-Mandalika, Labuan Bajo, and Likupang.
The five super priority tourist destinations are expected to not only attract tourists, but also foster a creative economic ecosystem that involves local residents.
The Ministry of PUPR's support for the Five Super Priority Tourism Destinations is in the form of infrastructure development at each location, which is planned in an integrated manner.
It also held a virtual exhibition entitled "Infrastructure for A Better Tomorrow" from November 12 to 30 at the Dubai expo. (Antaranews)
November
Govt distributes 2.29 million doses of Pfizer vaccine among regions
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Indonesian Health Ministry hasdistributed 2.29 million doses of Pfizer vaccine that arrived in the country in two batches to 10 provinces, the ministry's spokesperson for COVID-19 Vaccinations, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, has informed.
"The number of Pfizer vaccine that arrived in the 118th and 119th batches was 2,293,200 doses. In total, the vaccines that have arrived in the country from various brands, in bulk or finished form, are 332,671,550 doses," she informed in a written statement received here on Thursday.
The 118th batch of COVID-19 vaccine arrived at the Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang at 9.30 a.m. local time and Soekarno-Hatta Airport at 10 a.m. local time on Thursday, Tarmizi informed.
The 119th vaccine batch is scheduled to arrive on November 12, 2021 at Soekarno-Hatta Airport at 9 a.m. local time and at Ahmad Yani Airport Semarang at 9.30 a.m. local time, she said.
The Pfizer vaccine that arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport were immediately sent to the Health Service offices in Central Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, North Sumatra, West Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, Maluku, Maluku Pharmaceutical Installations, and West Java, she added.
Meanwhile, the vaccine that arrived at Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang was sent to the Health Service offices in Central Java and Yogyakarta, she said.
"The Pfizer vaccine that arrived this time was immediately disbursed to a number of areas, including West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, North Sumatra, and almost all provinces in Sulawesi and Maluku," Tarmizi informed.
The government took this step to increase vaccination coverage in the regions, she said. There are 21 provincial capitals that have reached the vaccination coverage target of more than 70 percent in November, she noted.
The government is continuing to ensure domestic vaccine stocks amid the limited availability of vaccines at the global level, she said.
"When we compare our data with global data for vaccination, we are ranked fifth for the number of people who received one dose of vaccination and also in terms of the number of doses given," Tarmizi emphasized.
Vaccination is one of the important tools for controlling COVID-19 transmission along with testing, tracing, and isolation, as well as implementing the health protocols, she said.
Although the level of daily cases in Indonesia has begun to decline, an increase in cases is still being detected in several districts and cities, she reported.
As many as 155 districts and cities have experienced an increase in cases in the past week compared to last week, she noted. Two cities—East Jakarta and Kendari— have reported an increase in cases for three consecutive weeks, she said.
"The government has dispatched a special team to monitor and supervise the implementation of health protocols in public areas to anticipate a spike in cases and the third wave," she added. (Antaranews)
November
Indonesia agrees to boost cooperation with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesia agreed to enhance industrial cooperation with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka during the second Regional Conference on Industrial Development (RCID), held on November 10-11, 2021 in Jakarta.
"Indonesia is constantly enhancing comprehensive cooperation with partners countries, such as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The synergy is expected to strengthen involving countries' economy amidst the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic," Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said in a statement received here on Thursday.
The minister said he held separate bilateral meetings with his Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan counterparts during which they agreed to enhance cooperation in the industry sector to boost economic recovery in each country and in the region as well. The cooperation would focus on digital transformation or the implementation of Industry 4.0, he informed.
"As stated by President Joko Widodo at the opening of the 2nd RCID, digital transformation could increase productivity, efficiency, and industry added value; hence, it would establish inclusive and sustainable industry development," Kartasasmita said.
The implementation of Industry 4.0 has become an instrument for developing an independent, sovereign, advanced, and competitive industrial sector, he added.
"Indonesia has launched a road map of Making Indonesia 4.0 that focuses on seven sectors, namely food and beverage industry, textile and garment, automotive, chemical, electronic, pharmaceutical, and health care devices," he elaborated.
The seven sectors, he said, would increase the contribution of the manufacturing sector to the gross domestic product (GDP), boost exports, and create more jobs, he added.
During the meeting with Bangladesh Industry Minister Humayun, Kartasasmita discussed the progress in the joint operation agreement between Indonesia's PT GMF AeroAsia and Biman Bangladesh on Maintenance Repair and Operation (MRO) services.
"We also highlighted the success of PT INKA (state-run railway firm) in the procurement of 400 train coaches to Bangladesh, and the follow-up on assessment of LNG supply to PetroBangla," he informed.
The minister also urged Indonesian business operators investing in Bangladesh to expand their product lines through the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).
Meanwhile, Humayun lauded the RCID-2 as a forum for enhancing bilateral cooperation, especially in the industry sector.
"Bangladesh sees that the cooperation in industry and investment could be expanded, especially the development of industrial estates in the two countries," Humayun said.
During the meeting with Sri Lankan Industry Minister Wimal Weerawansha, Kartasasmita emphasized the potential for cooperation in technical and vocational education training (TVET).
"We want to build cooperation with Sri Lanka on education and vocational training in schools and polytechnics under the Industry Ministry's management, as well as cooperation on research and development and textile industry innovation," the minister added.
Indonesia recorded a trade surplus with Sri Lanka during the last decade, with average trade value pegged at US$252 million per year.
The bilateral trade in the third quarter of 2021 reached US$333.3 million, with Indonesia's exports valued at US$299.7 million and imports pegged at US$33.5 million. (Antaranews)