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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
Widodo, Biden discuss issues on Indo-Pacific geopolitics: Hartarto
Written by Nur Yasmin
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, held a meeting with US President Joe Biden to discuss several issues, including the Indo-Pacific, on Nov 1, 2021, on the sidelines of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).
“The talks focused on Indo-Pacific geopolitics, Indonesia’s Presidency of G20, and Indonesia-US bilateral ties,” Hartarto said in a written statement received here on Wednesday.
During the meeting, Widodo reminded Biden of the strategic partnership and strong socio-economic cooperation between the two nations, Hartarto said.
The Indonesian President also invited the US to invest in new and renewable energy, including the development of the electric car ecosystem and lithium battery, he informed.
The two leaders also exchanged views on strengthening democracy and the global situation, he said
During the one-hour meeting, Biden also expressed support for Indonesia’s Presidency of the G20 in 2022, he added.
Meanwhile, Hartarto said he held talks with Microsoft owner Bill Gates and discussed business opportunities between Indonesia and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in several fields.
“(We) discussed the development of mRNA co-production, varied banana taxonomy in Indonesia, in cooperation with LIPI (Indonesian Institute of Sciences), as well as other issues, including financial inclusion,” he informed. (Antaranews)
November
Forest management combines economic, social aspects: President
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has said that successful climate management in Indonesia can be realized by combining economic and social aspects of forest management.
"Sustainable forest management policies must combine environmental with economic and social considerations. Partnerships with communities are also prioritized," the President said while speaking during the World Leaders Summit on Action on Forests and Land Use in Glasgow, Scotland, on Tuesday.
The social forestry program was created so that forest conservation went hand in hand with supporting the livelihoods of the surrounding community, he added.
This is important given 34 percent of all villages in Indonesia are located on the border or in forest areas, he pointed out.
"Millions of Indonesian people depend on the forestry sector for their livelihood. To deny this is not only unrealistic but also unsustainable," said the President.
According to Widodo, 90 percent of the world's population living in extreme poverty relies on forests for a living. To use the issue of climate change as a trade barrier is a huge mistake, he said.
"This will erode trust in international cooperation to overcome climate change, and even hinder sustainable development, which is sorely needed," the President remarked.
He deemed forest management that takes sustainable development into account as the only viable option. He also said that Indonesia is ready to share its experiences and knowledge on the subject.
"Let's manage forests (in a way) that are 'pro-environment', 'pro-development', and 'people-centered'. This is the main goal of the 'Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade Dialogue' or 'FACT Dialogue' which is co-chaired by Indonesia and the UK. (It is so that) forests (can) be a sustainable solution for global climate action," Widodo added.
Speaking at the COP26 World Leaders Summit, the President announced that Indonesia's forestry and land sector would achieve a "Net Carbon Sink" by 2030. Such is Indonesia's commitment to be part of the solution to climate change, he said.
"Indonesia's tangible/real achievements in the forestry sector are undeniable. In 2020, the rate of forest fires was minimized by 82 percent," he revealed.
Indonesia also managed to reduce emissions from forests and land use by 40.9 percent in 2019 compared to 2015, he said. Indonesia's deforestation rate also reached its lowest level in the past 20 years, he added.
"This was done when the world last year lost 12 percent more primary forests than the previous year and when many developed countries experienced the biggest forest and land fires in history," the President said.
Only two people received a special invitation to speak from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the meeting: the President of Colombia and the President of the Republic of Indonesia. Johnson also spoke at the meeting.
The President's entourage for the event included Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar. (Antaranews)
November
Indonesia affirms environmental diplomacy role at COP-4
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesia has affirmed its commitment to environmental diplomacy for phasing out the use of mercury while hosting the fourth Conference of Parties (COP-4) to the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
The conference is taking place virtually from November 1 to 5, 2021.
The commitment to reducing and handling mercury needs environmental diplomacy at a global level, director general of toxic and hazardous waste control at the Environment and Forestry Ministry, Rosa Vivien Ratnawati, said. She is also the president of COP-4.
“So, we want to show that Indonesia is able to play its role in global diplomacy,” she said at a press conference following the opening of COP-4 here on Tuesday.
As the host of COP-4, Indonesia should show the world that it is serious about solving a myriad of mercury-related problems, she said.
The election of Indonesia as the host of the conference is also a manifestation of international recognition of its achievement in reducing and phasing out the use of mercury, she added.
According to Ratnawati, Indonesia has succeeded in lowering the use of mercury by 374.4 kilograms in the lamp and battery industry and 710 kilograms in the energy sector,s particularly thermal power plants.
The use of mercury in the health sector has also declined by nearly 4,700 kilograms and in the small scale gold mining sector by 12.4 tons, she informed.
“The other confirms Indonesia’s leadership in solving global environmental issues,” she remarked.
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international pact aimed at protecting humans and the environment from the impact of mercury. Indonesia will host COP-4 to Minamata Convention virtually in two stages: the convention is being held virtually from November 1 and 5, 2021, and will take place face-to-face in Bali from March 21-25, 2022.
The convention aims to encourage the reduction and eradication of Minamata disease caused by acute poisoning and persistent exposure to high levels of mercury.
The Minamata Convention is named after the Japanese city of Minamata, which experienced a severe, decades-long incidence of mercury poisoning after industrial wastewater from a chemical factory was discharged into Minamata Bay. (antaranews)
November
Indonesia, Malaysia ink trade deals worth US$87.89 million
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Trade Ministry facilitated the inking of 18 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and Single Purchasing Statements (SPS) totaling US$87.89 million between Indonesian business actors and trading partners in Malaysia.
"This signing includes (trading of) the commodities of food and beverage, palm acid oil, coffee, tea, spices, herbal drinks, and Muslim clothing. The signing (event) was conducted on Monday (Nov 1) virtually," Trade Attache of the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur Deden Muhammad Fajar Siddiq stated in Kuala Lumpur, Tuesday.
The signing of the trade contract took place in the second week of the Trade Expo Indonesia Digital Edition (TEI-DE) 2021 held from October 21 to November 4, 2021.
Director General of National Export Development of the Ministry of Trade, Didi Sumedi, who joined the virtual event, lauded Indonesian representatives in Malaysia and businessmen for helping boost exports to Malaysia through the trade contract.
He assessed that the signing of those trade contracts demonstrated the revival of trade between Indonesia and Malaysia in recent years.
"During the January-August period this year, the total trade between Indonesia and Malaysia has reached US$13.4 billion. In comparison with that during the same period last year, the increase is extraordinary, at 49.3 percent. This is an extraordinary achievement. We should laud the efforts of our representatives in helping to improve the performance of our trade exports to Malaysia," he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Ambassador of Indonesia to Malaysia Hermono, who was also present to witness the signing, noted that the economic conditions in Malaysia had currently starting to recover.
This is reflected through the economic movement observed in various economic sectors in line with the easing of social restrictions policies by the Malaysian Government.
"Various economic sectors have started running in Malaysia, and this has a direct effect on increasing demand for various products, especially from Indonesia. We are optimistic that this condition would continue to improve, so that it can return to the pre-COVID-19 economic conditions," Hermono added.
During the January-August 2021 period, Indonesia had recorded a trade surplus of US$2.01 billion.
The surplus was generated from Indonesia's exports to Malaysia of US$7.68 billion and Indonesia's imports from Malaysia of US$5.67 billion.
In comparison with the January-August 2020 period, Indonesia's trade with Malaysia had totaled US$9 billion.
Indonesia recorded a trade surplus of US$593 million, resulting from its exports to Malaysia, worth US$4.79 billion, and Indonesia's imports from Malaysia valued at US$4.20 billion .
The signing was also witnessed by the Indonesian Consul General in Penang Bambang Suharto, Indonesian Consul in Tawau Heni Hamidah, and Indonesian Embassy's Trade Attache, Deden Muhammad Fajar Shiddiq. (Antaranews)
November
Indonesia largest among developing nations to pursue energy transition
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesia is one of the few countries and the largest among the developing countries to take concrete steps to realize a just and affordable energy transition, a Finance Ministry official has said.
“This shows a strong signal of Indonesia’s seriousness to address the risk of climate change,” Chief of the Fiscal Policy Board at the Finance Ministry Febrio Kacaribu said in a written statement released on Monday.
The Indonesian Government will optimize its active involvement in various international forums, including the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to set an example to other countries and catalyze cooperation in mitigating and overcoming the impact of climate change through concrete action, he said.
The Finance Minister and other stakeholders are currently attending COP26 and meetings related to global efforts to mitigate and prevent the impact of climate change in Glasgow, Scotland, from October 31 to November 12, 2021, he informed.
Kacaribu said COP26 is an essential meeting because it is the first summit aimed at evaluating progress achieved since the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2016, where 191 countries must set more ambitious targets for climate change action.
“COP26 is a great hope for many parties, including finance ministers and multilateral financial institutions to accomplish their commitment to reducing emissions,” he added.
One of the important themes of COP26 is the role of climate funding wherein developed nations prepare funding sources to assist developing nations adapt to and mitigate climate change, Kacaribu said.
Indonesia has urged developed nations to show concrete action in providing funding support to developing nations in accordance with several issues discussed under the agenda of COP26 climate funding—long-term financing under which developed nations will mobilize funds to the tune of US$100 billion per year starting 2020, he informed.
He said Indonesia, especially the Finance Ministry, has guided the discussion on this agenda in various rooms while at the same time, taking concrete action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
“The main priority to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is the forestry sector, energy sector, and transportation sector. These three sectors cover 97 percent of the target of emission reduction under Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Indonesia," Kacaribu said.
To support the program, Indonesia has conducted carbon pricing through the Presidential Regulation on carbon economic value (NEK), with the main scheme covering carbon trading, fees on carbon, and result-based payment. (Antaranews)
November
Indonesia pivotal trading partner: Switzerland Council of States
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesia is an important trading and economic partner for Switzerland, Swiss Council of States President Alex Kuprecht has said.
"Indonesia is the 3rd largest democracy in the world, after the United States, and India. Indonesia has the potential to become the world's 4th largest economic giant," Kuprecht said in a meeting with the media here on Monday.
Indonesia has been one of the eight priority countries in SECO's economic cooperation and development program since 2009, he added.
According to Kuprecht, economic development cooperation between Switzerland and Indonesia for 2021-2024 includes strengthening public institutions through the efficient use of resources and improving the competitiveness of the private sector, especially MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises).
The two countries' relations can be bolstered through sustainable tourism development with a particular focus on issues of gender equality, climate change, and sustainability, he added.
He said the IE-CEPA, a comprehensive economic partnership agreement between Indonesia and the four EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries—Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Norway—will take effect on November 1, 2021.
Based on the results of the vote or referendum held in March, Kuprecht said the majority of Swiss people support the realization of a free trade agreement with Indonesia through IE-CEPA.
"The IE-CEPA agreement is expected to encourage and push up cooperation between Indonesia and Switzerland," he affirmed.
The scope of IE-CEPA includes improvements in market access, legal certainty in products and services, procurement of goods and services, and labor rights.
"The positive impact of the comprehensive economic partnership agreement encompasses sustainable trade, creating jobs for EFTA countries, including Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Norway," he pointed out.
During his visit to Jakarta, Kuprecht said he aimed to discuss the IE-CEPA agreement and partnership between ASEAN and Switzerland.
Kuprecht, who is the parliament speaker, and Swiss Member of Council, Benedikt Würth, are also expected to visit the Lombok Tourism Polytechnic which teaches sustainable management. (Antaranews)
November
RI encourages inclusive agreement in COP-4 to Minamata Convention
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesia will seek an inclusive agreement useful for both developed and developing nations during the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-4) to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, an official has said.
The convention is being held virtually from November 1 to 5, 2021.
“At COP-4, Indonesia will encourage the achievement of inclusive agreement useful to developed and developing nations,” Director General of Toxic and Hazardous Waste Management at the Environment and Forestry Ministry Rosa Vivien Ratnawati said on Monday.
Ratnawati, who is also president of COP-4 to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, said Indonesia will make efforts to encourage the signing of an agreement to accommodate the interests of developed and developing nations so that all parties can benefit from the Minamata Convention.
In the first phase of the conference, participants will discuss work and budget which will serve as a central issue of the meeting held virtually, she informed.
"At the COP-4.1, we hope and encourage every party to come up with effective views. The issues discussed at the meeting will hopefully come close to a consensus so that the adoption process at COP-4.2 will run smoothly,” she said.
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international pact aimed at protecting humans and the environment from the impact of mercury. Indonesia will host COP-4 to Minamata Convention virtually in two stages: the convention is being held virtually from November 1 and 5, 2021, and will take place face-to-face in Bali in 2022.
The convention aims to encourage the reduction and eradication of Minamata disease caused by acute poisoning and persistent exposure to high levels of mercury.
The Minamata Convention is named after the Japanese city of Minamata, which experienced a severe, decades-long incidence of mercury poisoning after industrial wastewater from a chemical factory was discharged into Minamata Bay. (Antaranews)
November
Regional governments urged to stay committed to bureaucratic reform
Written by Nur Yasmin
Head of the Research and Development Agency at the Ministry of Home Affairs Agus Fatoni has asked regional governments to keep staying committed to bureaucratic reform because it is essential to realize a clean and capable government, as well as to improve the quality of public services.
The bureaucratic reform is conducted by referring to eight areas of change, including the management of change, public service, supervision, accountability, institutions, as well as structuring the management sector, human resources (HR), and policy deregulation, he said.
In carrying out the bureaucratic reform in those eight areas, the regional governments need to implement policy breakthroughs in six innovation areas, Fatoni said in a statement that ANTARA received here Sunday.
Those six areas of innovation are essential and in line with the goals of bureaucratic reform so that changes could be realized more quickly, he said.
In detail, he expounded that innovation in the six areas includes administrative innovation, management innovation, policy innovation, frugal innovation, as well as innovation in the technology and social sectors.
For administrative innovation, the regional governments can adopt new ways of managing administration so that their performance accountability and decision making can be more effective and efficient.
He explained that innovation in the management area is an innovation that mainly focuses on fixing procedures and bureaucracy in a bid to improve organizational performance.
"The regional governments can make efforts to form policies that are more efficient, selective, applicable, and can be adopted by various parties to solve problems," he said.
Aside from that, the regional governments are expected to generate product innovations at lower costs to respond to limited availability of resources. That step, he said, is called frugal innovation.
Meanwhile, for innovation in the technology sector, the regional administrations can adopt new production processes by doing a series of research and development, or in other words, technology transfer.
"Innovation in the social sector must also be included. This effort is aimed to improve socio-economic conditions and realize more inclusive development," he remarked. (Antaranews)
November
Italian PM lauds Jokowi's program on empowering MSMEs
Written by Nur Yasmin
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi lauded Indonesian President Joko Widodo's programs regarding MSMEs empowerment, increasing the role of women in business, and economic inclusiveness, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said.
"The Italian prime minister appreciates the programs presented by President Jokowi," Minister Hartarto stated in an online press statement -- on the Group of Twenty (G20) Summit in Rome -- broadcasted on Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel and monitored from Jakarta on Sunday.
Amid the series of G20 meetings, a side event on MSMEs and women-owned businesses was conducted, and it presented President Jokowi as a speaker, along with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.
At the side event, Jokowi conveyed about the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) empowerment programs that Indonesia had carried out, such as the provision of loans for people's business (KUR), supermicro KUR loans, women-based finance lending development (Mekaar) program, and digitization program for MSMEs.
Moreover, Coordinating Minister Hartarto also said that Queen Maxima of the Netherlands during the event mentioned about the presence of online motorcycle taxi services as a good example of economic inclusive implementation.
During the G20 side event regarding MSMEs, President Jokowi said that Indonesia currently has more than 65 million MSMEs that contribute to 61 percent of the national economy. Jokowi emphasized that MSMEs are the main pillar of Indonesia's national economy.
At the same time, 64 percent of Indonesian MSME actors are women. Therefore, for Indonesia, the program to empower MSMEs also means empowering women in business. MSMEs in the coutry have also shown quite high resilience in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, Indonesian government has also distributed a fund worth US$1.1 billion for the Productive Micro Business Program and 63.5 percent of which was received by women entrepreneurs. (Antaranews)
November
G20 leaders agree on global COVID-19 vaccination strategy: Retno
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said leaders of the G20 countries have agreed to achieve the global vaccination strategy set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
"The leaders also expressed their views on the need to vaccinate 40 percent by the end of 2021, and 70 percent in mid-2022. This is actually a global strategy given by WHO which is supported by the G20 leaders," she said in a statement at the Splendide Royal Hotel, Rome, Italy, on Saturday.
Speaking after accompanying President Joko Widodo at the G20 Summit in La Nuvola, she said the G20 leaders discussed joint efforts to get out of the twin health and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
They also discussed issues related to a close cooperation between the minister of finance and minister of health, and cooperation with such international organizations as the WHO, World Bank, and IMF, as well as the availability of funds to deal with the pandemic, Retno Marsudi said.
Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in his statement emphasized the importance of strengthening an inclusive global health architecture that adheres to the principles of solidarity, justice, transparency, and equality.
President Jokowi proposed several steps, including creating a mechanism for raising global health resources; compiling a global health protocol for cross-border activities; and optimizing the role of the G20 in efforts to address the scarcity and gaps of vaccines, medicines, and essential medical devices, she said.
With regard to strengthening global health resilience, President Jokowi also emphasized the importance of accelerating a stronger and more inclusive and sustainable global economic recovery.
President Jokowi said the G20 leaders shared a similar view that the world economy had not yet revived, Retno Marsudi added. (Antaranews)