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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
BRIN to build four earthquake-resilient composite homes in 2021
Written by Nur Yasmin
The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) will build four earthquake-resilient composite housing units in 2021 to be placed in several areas in Indonesia, BRIN official Ade Sholeh Hidayah told ANTARA here on Tuesday.
"It would require earthquake-resilient house technology innovation that comprises design, construction, material, structural strength testing to produce earthquake-resilient buildings," he noted.
One of the four earthquake-resilient units will be built and placed in Rangkasbitung, Lebak district, and will be used by Lebak district's Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) in Banten, West Java, he informed.
Meanwhile, the other prototype housing units will be built and placed in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara to be utilized as teacher's accommodations, he said.
BRIN has made the effort to support the government's program that concerns building infrastructure to mitigate disasters, he informed.
Among these infrastructures are housing units that are quick to build and resilient against earthquakes, Hidayah said.
Earthquake-resilient composite housing is one of the innovations that BRIN has created to expedite the realization of fire and earthquake-resilient building construction innovations that are quick to build, he explained.
These buildings will be utilized as a strategic solution to mitigate earthquakes, he said.
The housing will be built using fire-resistant and light materials such as composite panels, styrofoam, and aluminum, he informed.
As a result, the total weight of the composite housing structures will be four times lighter compared to the weight of conventional housing structures, he explained.
This innovation is expected to be used by various parties to reduce the risk from earthquakes, especially to reduce fatalities caused by collapsing of buildings during quakes, he said.
On November 5, 2021, BNPB had organized mangrove planting on Mbah Drajid Beach, Lumajang district, East Java, as a tsunami mitigation measure and to commemorate World Tsunami Awareness Day, he noted.
Apart from being a mitigatory step against tsunami in vulnerable areas, this activity also aimed to raise residents' awareness of potential earthquake and tsunami threats, he added. (Antaranews)
November
Govt continuing to replenish COVID-19 vaccine stocks: official
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Indonesian government is striving to meet national COVID-19 vaccine needs by restocking vaccines, an official has said.
With the arrival of the 116th batch of vaccines, four million Sinovac doses are ready to be distributed to regions across the country, director general of information and public communication at the Ministry of Communications and Informatics, Usman Kansong, said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
"The Sinovac vaccine again arrives in Jakarta in the form of a ready-to-use vaccine. This time, 4 million doses arrive this afternoon," he added.
Since the beginning, Indonesia has received Sinovac vaccines in two forms—finished form and in the form of raw materials that need to be processed (bulk) further, he noted.
Indonesia has so far received 100 million Sinovac doses in finished form and 153 million Sinovac doses in bulk, Kansong said.
The raw materials received from Sinovac have been processed to make 124.4 million finished vaccine doses, he informed.
"So, in total, we already have 330,378,350 doses of vaccine from various brands in Indonesia, both in bulk and finished form," Kansong explained.
The COVID-19 vaccine will always be made available for the public until the vaccination target is achieved and all people in Indonesia have received the vaccine, he affirmed.
The government is committed to providing COVID-19 vaccines to protect the health of all levels of society from the coronavirus, he said.
Kansong also reminded people who have not been vaccinated to immediately take the shot to protect themselves, their family, and the whole community.
"Currently, there are 125 million people in Indonesia who have received the first dose of vaccination and 79 million of them have completed the vaccination," he informed.
Kansong urged the public to follow the health protocols amid the sloping cases of COVID-19 since several countries are experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases.
For this reason, joint efforts from all parties are needed to prevent a spike in cases or a third wave of infections in Indonesia, he added.
"Stay alert and learn from the experiences of countries in Europe that are experiencing a spike in cases," Kansong cautioned. (Antaranews)
November
Bio Farma distributed 233.4 million COVID-19 vaccines until Nov 4
Written by Nur Yasmin
Bio Farma, the holding company for pharmaceutical State-Owned Enterprises, has distributed 233.4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to all Indonesian provinces.
"In total, until November 4, 2021, we had distributed 233.4 million doses of vaccines to all provinces in Indonesia," Director of Bio Farma Honesti Basyir stated here on Tuesday.
Basyir remarked that several million more vaccine doses were directly distributed by the manufacturers in collaboration with the government. He cited the example of Pfizer wherein Pfizer global had entered an agreement with the Health Ministry in terms of the supply. Pfizer directly distributes the vaccines to provinces in Indonesia.
Such distribution, which was the result of an agreement between manufacturers and the government, is not included in the distribution handled by Bio Farma, thereby pegging the amount of vaccines distributed by it at 233.4 million doses.
This distribution encompasses all types of vaccines that already exist in Indonesia, which have obtained an emergency use authorization (EUA) from the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM). Those include vaccines that Bio Farma had obtained either via a direct supply agreement or the COVAX facility or from allied countries.
"The target is that by the end of the year, which will be our assignment, a total of around 326.8 million doses (will be distributed). We still have several vaccines that will be delivered in November and December 2021 to meet all needs," he remarked.
The vaccines that will be distributed until the end of the year as per the target are COVID-19 vaccines that are not gifted, which means the vaccines are part of a supply agreement between Bio Farma and vaccine developers. Bio Farma is striving to hand out a total of 326.8 million vaccine doses to the government in accordance with its tasks.
"Until October 2021, we have received more than 250 million doses, so that in November and December, another 111 million doses of vaccines will be obtained from various developers, such as the Bio Farma COVID-19 vaccine that Bio Farma produces itself, and there is also the Novavax vaccine or Covavax, which is the name of the product that will be coming soon. Moreover, there is AstraZeneca vaccine produced in China and also the finished vaccine that Bio Farma imports directly from Sinovac with the brand name Coronavac 2," Basyir revealed. (Antaranews)
November
Govt seeks to administer 300 million vaccines by year-end
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Indonesian Government is targeting to administer 300 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2021 under the national vaccination program, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has said.
"With this pace, we estimate that by the end of the year, 290-300 million doses will have been injected (in total)," Sadikin informed in a press statement, accessed online here on Monday.
The 300 million doses comprise 168 million first doses and 124 million second doses, he expounded.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has asked that two million vaccine doses be administered each day under the national immunization program to reach the target, the minister said.
"As of yesterday, 205 million doses have been injected. We surpassed the 200 million figure last week. Some 125 million people have received the first dose of vaccination or 60 percent of the target, and 80 million have received the second dose or 38 percent of the target," he informed.
Earlier, the President had raised the COVID-19 vaccination target in Indonesia.
"Because we had successfully achieved the target, he (President Jokowi) asked if possible in all provinces, the first dose vaccination reaches 60 percent in November and 70 percent in December," Sadikin explained.
Based on the number of first dose recipients, Indonesia ranks 5th globally, with more than 100 million citizens completing the first dose, he said.
To boost immunity against COVID-19, the Indonesian government launched a nationwide vaccination program on January 13, 2021. President Joko Widodo was the first vaccine recipient under the program.
According to the Health Ministry's data, as of November 8, 2021, nearly 125,468,157 citizens have received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, while 79,340,983 have been fully vaccinated against the virus. (Antaranews)
November
Indonesian on Monday received four million Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine doses as part of the 115th batch, Minister of Communication and Informatics Johnny G. Plate said in a press statement the same day.
"Vaccines continue to arrive. This time, four million Sinovac vaccine doses arrived on November 8, 2021," he informed.
With the arrival of the 115th batch, the total number of vaccines that Indonesia has received so far, both in the form of bulk and finished products from several vaccine brands, has reached 365 million, he noted.
According to Plate, the government is optimistic about reaching the target of vaccinating 70 percent of the targeted recipients by the end of 2021 due to the smooth arrival of vaccine stocks.
"The smooth arrivals of vaccines have made efforts to accelerate and expand the vaccination program more optimal because the number of Indonesians who have been vaccinated continues to increase," he remarked.
The government is targeting to provide the second dose of vaccination to at least 123 million recipients by the end of the year, he noted.
Minister Plate reminded that vaccination is not only an effort to protect oneself but also one's family and the whole community.
Besides vaccinations, the government has also reminded the public to keep complying with the health protocols, especially since the rainy season has come, he said.
"Stamina and endurance should be maintained so that we do not become a friendly host for the virus," he added.
To boost immunity against COVID-19, the Indonesian government launched a nationwide vaccination program on January 13, 2021. President Joko Widodo was the first vaccine recipient under the program.
According to the Health Ministry's data, as of November 8, 2021, nearly 125,468,157 citizens have received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, while 79,340,983 have been fully vaccinated against the virus. (Antaranews)
November
The European Union (EU) still needs Indonesian palm oil, as the country's palm oil exports to Europe had soared by 26 percent in 2020, according to Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko.
Moeldoko conveyed the statement to the Indonesian Palm Oil Farmers Association (Apkasindo) and the EU Ambassador for Indonesia Vincent Piket at the Bina Graha Building, Jakarta, on Monday.
The EU currently applies high and strict standards in exports, not only for palm oil but also for other commodities, he noted.
"One of the standards used is whether the product or commodity has an impact on environmental destruction. This is what everyone, including palm oil farmers, must pay attention to," Moeldoko expounded.
On the same occasion, EU Ambassador Vincent Piket stated that EU countries harbored aspirations of making Europe a climate-neutral continent by 2050 and reduce carbon emissions by 55 percent by 2030.
Regulations are projected to undergo strict changes or even products that are not environmentally friendly will be prohibited from entering Europe. Therefore, commodities exported to Europe from Indonesia must be produced more sustainably, Vincent stated.
Responding to the statement, Apkasindo Chairman Gulat Manurung remarked that Indonesian palm oil farmers had prioritized sustainability from an economic, ecological, and social perspective.
"In accordance with the Omnibus Law on Job Creation (UU Cipta Kerja), 42 percent of the farmers in 22 Indonesian provinces must be sustainable in managing palm oil," Manurung affirmed.
The Presidential Staff Office (KSP) has facilitated Apkasindo's meeting with the EU ambassador for Indonesia to find a point of agreement regarding the issue of palm oil.
The EU Commission earlier threatened the sustainability of Indonesia's crude palm oil (CPO) exports to Europe through the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) regulation issued in 2018.
The policy necessitates EU countries to use RED II for at least 32 percent of their country's total energy consumption. Moreover, the policy has excluded palm oil as a raw material for biofuel production. (Antaranews)
November
RI presents telecommunication technology innovations in Expo 2020
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesia showcases innovations in telecommunication technology during the commemoration of Indonesia National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai to introduce the country’s excellence in telecommunication technology.
.”Through Indonesia Pavilion the government presents excellence in the digital and telecommunication industry that has allowed connectivity among the Indonesian people through various innovations with high competitive edge at a global level,” Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi said in Dubai on Sunday.
As one of the companies entrusted to represent the Indonesian delegation to Expo 2020 Dubai, Telkomsel presents innovations in telecommunication technology and optimize its role as a digital ecosystem enabler to support the commemoration of Indonesia National Day, he said.
:As one of a series of important events during Expo 2020 Dubai, the National Day offers a great chance to every country to showcase its excellence, uniqueness, growth and potential to the world,” Telkomsel President Director Hendri Mulya Syam said in Dubai on Sunday.
Hendri said Telkomsel is committed to making Indonesia the most promising country in terms of trade, investment and tourism by presenting digital innovations and solutions in the use of Telkomsel’s most advanced technology.
“Telkomsel’s participation in the National Day is a manifestation of our #BukaSemuaPeluang (program) for Indonesia to increase its potentials in various sectors, including trade, tourism, technology, and education in keeping with greater chance for Indonesia to establish collaboration and become destination of investment from many countries which will eventually have an impact on sustainable national economic growth,” he said.
National Day is a means of promotion for Indonesia at a global level. During the event, Telkomsel showcased the capability of the latest digital telecommunication technology to make optimum advantage of potentials and grow digital ecosystem in Indonesia, which will create a chance for collaboration and investment to support the ideals of the country’s progress in various sectors, he said.
"National Day also promotes Indonesia’s economic potentials which currently receive support from highly competitive infrastructures and resources as well as massive digital economic growth,” Hendri said
Telkomsel is upbeat about the National Day commemoration being able to expand networks to attract people to visit Indonesia Pavilion while at the same time opening a chance to establish strategic relations in the long run in the fields of trade, investment and tourism. (Antaranews)
November
Indonesia pushes for enhanced cooperation with Thailand in tourism
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesian Ambassador to Thailand Rachmat Budiman has pushed for enhanced cooperation between the two nations in the tourism and trade fields following Thailand’s policy to extend quarantine-free entry to vaccinated tourists from 63 countries including Indonesia as of November 2021.
The policy is expected to pave the way for the recovery of Indonesian tourist arrivals to Thailand, the ambassador said in a written statement released on Saturday.
“The policy will also encourage enhanced bilateral cooperation in the economic and trade field,” he said at a meeting with Phuket Governor Krabi and Vice Governor Surat Thani as part of his working visit to the province from November 1 to 4.
Budiman further spoke of the reopening of the Indonesian tourism particularly in Bali and Riau Islands to foreign tourists from 19 countries as of October 14, 2021.
He said foreign tourists wishing to visit Bali and Riau Islands are still required to undergo quarantine.
At the meeting the two countries also discussed various initiatives to promote cooperation in the tourism sector including encouraging the connectivity between Phuket and Bali.
The significance of enhancing cooperation in the fields of trade and investment was also one of the issues the ambassador raised during the meeting, according to the statement.
The ambassador said the efforts to enhance the cooperation can be made through facilitating the participation of the two countries’ business agents in various activities including the trade and investment expo held both in Indonesia and Thailand.
He invited Thai businessmen particularly those from the provinces of Phuket, Grabi, and Surat Thani to attend virtual Trade Expo Indonesia which displays a variety of excellent products and services.
The Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok also expressed its readiness to facilitate efforts to enhance economic cooperation through direct relations between private parties in the two countries. (Antaranews)
November
Indonesia secures US$44.6 billion investment commitments from UAE
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesia has managed to secure US$44.6 billion investment commitments from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the visit of President Joko Widodo (jokowi) to the Arab country.
The investment would focus mainly on three sectors, notably renewable energy, industries based on good environmental management, and investment with good collaboration, according to Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.
"In order to make a quick response to realize the concept of joint investment between Indonesia and the UAE, we have been instructed to take care of all matters related to licensing and other facilitation needed by UAE investors in Indonesia," he said in a statement on Sunday.
Bahlil, who accompanied President Jokowi during the Indonesia-UAE Business Forum in Dubai on Thursday (November 4, 2021), expressed his readiness to welcome investment from the UAE and accelerate the realization of the great vision of the two countries.
The business meeting was attended by nine UAE companies that already have an interest in investing in Indonesia for both new and expansion investments.
Several companies present expressed their commitment to invest in Indonesia adding to the b-to-b agreements that had been exchanged in front of the leaders of the two countries.
Some of those who expressed commitments include Al Dahra Group (dairy products), Yas Holding (agriculture), Emirates Global Alumunium (aluminum smelters), Damac Properties (properties) and AMEA Power (renewable energy).
In total, investment commitments during the president's visit to the UAE reached US$44.6 billion, including the investment value of the Memorandum of Understanding worth US$15 billion between the Ministry of Investment and Air Products from the United States.
Speaking at the forum, President Jokowi emphasized the commitment of the Indonesian government to downstream and stop the export of raw mineral products to international markets.
"We will continue to prohibit the export of metal mineral products--after aluminum and nickel, maybe later copper--to support the investors to build value-added industries in Indonesia," said the president when responding to Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA)'s plan to invest in Indonesia, in partnership with PT Inalum (Persero).
Meanwhile, UAE Minister of Energy and Industry Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei who represented the UAE government expressed his appreciation for the very close relationship between the two leaders.
Suhail said that the UAE wanted to cooperate with Indonesia, not only because Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population, but also has the capability, resources and strategic position in the international stage.
"We have a high target from the cooperation signed today. The UAE government has a special interest in the construction of Indonesia's new capital city. In addition, we also see interest from the UAE private sector. We need guidance from President Jokowi and other ministers to ensure that our commitment can be realized well," Suhail noted.
Based on the records of the Ministry of Investment, the realization of investment from the UAE in Indonesia in January-September 2021 was US$7.8 million.
Meanwhile, the accumulated investment realization from the UAE in Indonesia from 2016 to the second quarter of 2021 reached US$250.7 million and was ranked 27th.
Investments from the UAE are dominated by the food crops and plantation sectors with a total realization of US$109.0 million, and 71 percent of the UAE's total investment projects in Indonesia is located outside Java. (Antaranews)
November
Indonesia, Singapore collaborate on vaccinated travel lane
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesia is cooperating with Singapore to prevent COVID-19 transmission by implementing the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) program for overseas travelers, spokesperson for the COVID-19 Handling Task Force said here on Thursday afternoon.
"Currently, the Indonesian government, through the Foreign Affairs Ministry, is collaborating with other ministries and institutions as well as the Singaporean government for establishing the VTL program,” Wiku Adisasmito said during a press conference that was streamed on the National Disaster Mitigation Agency's YouTube channel.
VTL is a protection program for foreign travelers who have received a complete dose of COVID-19 vaccination and possess a medical certificate as proof, he informed.
Prospective tourists must be residents of countries that are part of the mutual cooperation, he said.
Furthermore, Adisasmito informed that it is possible to establish the VTL program with other countries by considering their recent positivity rate and the socio-economic aspects between them and Indonesia.
In addition to the VTL, he said the government has carried out various other cooperation such as a mutual recognition agreement on vaccine certificates and a travel corridor arrangement.
The cooperation is aimed at reviving community activities in compliance with strict health protocols so that governments can anticipate imported COVID-19 cases well, he explained.
Furthermore, the spokesperson informed that Bali province will host three international badminton tournaments in the next few weeks.
Hence, the COVID-19 Handling Task Force along with the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) is preparing health protocols for the events.
"We will apply the bubble system; thus, the participants will only carry out activities at the sites which have been prepared by the committee, for instance, hotels, training venues, and competition venues," he said.
The system is aimed at curbing the transmission of the virus, he added. In addition, all related parties will have to go through proper health screening, he informed.
Furthermore, all participants coming from abroad will arrive at Soekarno-Hatta Airport and go to Bali through domestic transportation, he said. (Antaranews)