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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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May
Indonesia to add 41,000 megawatts of electrical power in one decade
Written by Nur Yasmin
The government is planning to build power plants with a capacity of up to 41 thousand megawatts in the next 10 years, according to a draft of state electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN)'s electricity procurement plan (RUPTL) for the 2021-2030 period.
The government assured that the planned development of power plants will prioritize new and renewable energy-based power plants, Director General of Electricity at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Rida Mulyana said in a statement quoted in Jakarta on Saturday.
"We have targeted to get an addition of nearly 41 thousand megawatts in the next 10 years including 2021," he said.
In 2021, the government has targeted an addition of 8,915 megawatts comprising 4,688 megawatts from mine-mouth power plants and 3,467 megawatts from gas-fired power plants, he said.
Meanwhile, 22 megawatts will come from diesel power plants and 737 megawatts from new and renewable energy-based power plants.
Rida said the power plants with a capacity of 34,520 megawatts have been discussed with PLN, while power plants with a capacity of 6,439 megawatts are still being discussed.
In drafting the RUPTL for the next decade, the government will still give priority to the development of fossil fuel power plants over new and renewable energy-based power plants, with a 52 percent -48 percent ratio.
Based on the regulation, the RUPTL is drawn up every 10 years and will be subject to a change if based on the result of evaluation it needs revision. The change may also happen due to discretion from the energy and mineral resources minister or governor in accordance with their authority. (Antaranews)
May
Indonesia unveils its strategies in chairing 2022 G20 presidency
Written by Nur Yasmin
Coordinating Minister for Economy Airlangga Hartarto unveiled Indonesia's strategies in chairing the G20 Sherpa in 2022 as members of this international forum are striving to tackle the tremendous impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on economy and public health.
"The global pandemic of COVID-19 has made this forum face more complex challenges, and expect that Indonesia will lead strategic measures to tackle the pandemic's impacts," he said in Jakarta on Sunday.
Hartarto believes that the G20 presidency will bring benefits to Indonesia, including synergizing with members of international community to boost the recoveries of its and global economies.
The G20 presidency would also enable Indonesia to have a voice in determining the directions of global economy after the COVID-19 crisis, including the ones related to the stability of international financial system, he said.
In addition to that, it would enable Indonesia to showcase its successes in bringing about structural and financial reforms in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic as evidently revealed by the job creation law, transition to green energy, and establishment of an Indonesian sovereign wealth fund (SWF), he said.
The G20 presidency would also enable Indonesia to use international supports for its prioritized programs, including digitalization, human resources development, women and youths' empowerment, availability of vaccine stocks, and preparation for healthcare system for future pandemic risk mitigation.
For the purpose of this presidency, the Indonesian Government has created a document management system to manage the G20's substantial documents. It is then integrated into Indonesia's G20 Sherpa Secretariat that can be accessed by all ministries and government agencies involving in the G20, he added.
President Joko Widodo has even appointed Airlangga Hartarto to chair the G20 Sherpa Track based on his letter No.12/2021 dated on May 27, 2021.
This year, the G20 presidency is upheld by Italy. As revealed in its official website, under its presidency, Italy focuses on "three broad, interconnected pillars of action: People, Planet, Prosperity".
Formed in 1999, the Group of Twenty (G20) now has 20 members. They are the United States of America, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Turkey, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, China, Germany, Britain, India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Italy, France, Russia, and European Union. (Antaranews)
May
Indonesia contributing to ASEAN, UN programs for seafarers
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesia has been supporting a number of ASEAN and UN programs for seafarers, who contribute significantly to the national economy, including provision of COVID-19 vaccines to them, according to a senior official.
"Indonesia agrees that seafarers are key workers. Starting from a Joint Statement at the International Maritime Virtual Summit on Crew Changes on July 9, 2020, Indonesia has recognized the importance of the role of seafarers as the backbone of the economy," Capt. Hermanta, director of shipping and maritime affairs at the directorate general of sea transportation under the Ministry of Transportation, said in a press statement released here on Saturday.
Hermanta made the remarks while leading the Indonesian delegation at the ‘Intersessional Discussion on Covid 19: Responses of ASEAN Member States to Seafarer Access to Crew Change, Repatriation, and National Vaccination Programs’, held online and hosted by Thailand on May 27-28, 2021.
The meeting was attended by nine ASEAN countries, three dialogue partners (FASA, South Korea, and China), as well as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as the UN's special agency.
Indonesia has assisted in crew changes and repatriation of seafarers since April 24, 2020, Hermanta said. So far, the nation has assisted in crew changes of 6,563 sailors and the return of 57,142 Indonesian migrant workers, he disclosed.
He also provided details on the national vaccination program for seafarers.
"In Indonesia, the vaccination of seafarers is a special concern of the Ministry of Transportation. We have coordinated with the Ministry of Health and the COVID-19 Task Force in the implementation of vaccinations for seafarers, including the vaccination program which will be carried out in the near future," he said.
The government has set a target of vaccinating 15 thousand seafarers by the end of 2021.
As of May 6, 2021, 8,123 vaccine doses have been administered and 1,487 people have received the second COVID-19 shot under the first vaccination program for seafarers.
At the 103rd meeting of the Maritime Safety Committee, Indonesia supported the draft resolution on recommendations to prioritize vaccination programs for seafarers.
Members of the Indonesian delegation included officials from the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Transportation. (Antaranews)
May
Five Papuan Separatist Leaders Put On BNPT Most-Wanted List
Written by Nur Yasmin
The National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) has put five leaders heading separatist terrorist groups operating in Papua and West Papua on its most-wanted list.
The agency will track down the leaders, in accordance with Indonesia's Law No.5/2018 on Terrorism, BNPT chief Coms.Gen.Boy Rafli Amar said here on Thursday.
Speaking at a hearing session with members of the House of Representatives Commission III overseeing legal affairs, he said the agency will solely focus on the names on the most-wanted list.
Counterterrorism operations against those commanding the armed separatist terrorist groups will not target all Papuan communities, Amar said.
"Instead, the targets are only those from the armed groups that have been identified to get committed acts of violence," he added.
The five men who have been put on the BNPT's most-wanted list are — Lekagak Telenggen, Egianus Kogoya, Militer Murib, Germanius Elobo, and Sabinus Waker, Amar disclosed.
Lekagak Telenggen is the head of the so-called Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-OPM), which is known to operate in Yambi, Gome, Sinak, and Ilaga areas of Puncak district, he said.
The Lekagak Telenggen-led group is estimated to have 50 personnel.
Egianus Kogoya is the leader of the Ndugama TPN-OPM operating in Nduga district. His group also has 50 men, Amar said.
Militer Murib is the head of the 20-member TPM/OPM operating in Puncak district, while Germanius Elobo is the chief of the 30-member Kali Kopi group.
"The fifth target has been identified as Sabinus Waker. He leads the Intan Jaya group, which has 50 members and armed with 17 firearms," Amar told legislators.
The Indonesian government officially declared armed Papuan groups, also called "KKB", as "terrorists" on April 29, 2021 owing to their acts of terror and crimes against civilians.
Over the course of the last few years, armed Papuan groups have employed hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel and mounted acts of terror against civilians in the districts of Intan Jaya, Nduga, and Puncak to stoke fear among the people.
The recent targets of the armed groups have included construction workers, motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, teachers, students, street food vendors, and even civilian aircraft.
On April 25, 2021, Papuan separatists operating in Beoga ambushed State Intelligence Agency (Papua) chief, Maj. Gen. I Gusti Putu Danny Karya Nugraha, and several security personnel while they were visiting Dambet village.
Following Nugraha's fatal shooting, President Joko Widodo ordered the TNI and National Police to track down and arrest all members of armed separatist and terrorist groups operating in Papua, stressing that there is no place for them within Indonesian territory. (Antaranews)
May
Jokowi: PEN Budget Realization Should Be Expedited
Written by Nur Yasmin
The budget of Rp699 trillion allotted for the National Economic Recovery (PEN) program this year should be realized soon and also be right on target, according to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).
“This is since we need to accelerate and be right on target for our economy to revive,” President Jokowi remarked at the opening of the national coordination meeting of the 2021 government's internal supervision at the Bogor Presidential Palace, Bogor, West Java, on Thursday.
Jokowi acknowledged the slow budget realization for PEN. Until today, the PEN budget disbursed had only reached 24.6 percent of the total of the 2021 state budget ceiling.
“Budget absorption for PEN, the National Economic Recovery Program, remains slow at 24.6 percent. Once more, the acceleration and also the accuracy of the target (are urgently needed),” he emphasized.
The president underscored that 2021 was the year of national economic recovery to which end budget realization should be expedited without overlooking accuracy, effectiveness, and efficiency in budget utilization.
Moreover, Jokowi urged the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) and the Government Internal Supervisory Agency (APIP) to meet the economic growth target at seven percent by the second quarter of 2021 after having tanked to negative levels in the previous four quarters.
Hence, the BPKP and APIP are necessitated to assist in supervising the acceleration of governmental budget spending, either at the national or regional level.
“I urge the BPKP and all internal supervisors of the government to check carefully to look for factors causing deceleration in the realization of budget spending. What happened? Offer the solutions and ways out to solve this problem! The tasks are supervising the spending and then overseeing the ministries, institutions, and regional administrations in order to realize quick and accountable spending,” Jokowi expounded.
The president affirmed that economic recovery by the second quarter of 2021 had become more critical since it would determine the recovery momentum after being hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
For 2021, the government has targeted economic growth to reach four to five percent or to rebound from -2.07 percent by 2020.
“The year-on-year target of our economic recovery has been set at 4.5-5.5 percent. If in this second quarter, we cannot reach seven percent, we cannot meet the 2021 economic growth target either,” he noted. (Antaranews)
May
President Urges Ministers, Regional Heads To Not Withhold Data
Written by Nur Yasmin
President Joko Widodo instructed all ministers, heads of institutions, and regional heads to not withhold data required by the government’s internal supervisory apparatuses (APIP).
"I call on all ministers, heads of institutions, and regional heads to allow access to accurate information without anything being withheld in order to ensure that the APIP can work professionally and independently," Widodo stated at the Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java, Thursday.
The president made the statement while opening the 2021 national coordination meeting for internal government surveillance in which Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of State Secretariat Pratikno, and Chief of Development and Finance Controller (BPKP) M. Yusuf Ateh participated alongside 2,223 other meeting’s attendees.
"All recommendations need to be followed up. Do not let it become mere recommendations. Tackle the root causes of the problems to ensure that they do not recur in the future," he explained.
Jokowi believes mistakes were repeated through the years over non-compliance to recommendations from the BPKP and the government’s internal supervisory apparatuses (APIP).
"I would like to emphasize to the ministers, head of agencies, and regional heads to seriously follow recommendations from the BPKP and APIP. Do not allow (problems) to prolong for too long, for they will only grow bigger and can become legal issues," he cautioned.
According to Jokowi, the APIP aims to ensure that the government and budget targets are achieved in an accountable, effective, and efficient manner.
"The people are waiting for progress, and this is what we often forget. The people are awaiting the result, the merit of every rupiah spent by the government, and surveillance needed to ensure that no money is off-target, none of it is misused, and no corruption," the president stressed.
During the ongoing pandemic, President Widodo has called for the APIP and BPKP to work swiftly and bolster coordination and synchronization.
"Strengthen the system of checks and balances, work together, and correct each other, so that government programs can be conducted effectively, the people can derive as many benefits as possible, and our country can soon recover from the pandemic," he affirmed.
The government’s internal supervisory apparatuses (APIP) had been formed under Government Regulation Number 60 in 2008 on the Government Internal Control System.
APIP is an organizational unit at the levels of the central government, regional government, ministries, and other institutions tasked with control duties encompassing audit, revisions, evaluations, surveillance, and other control measures on the function and tasks of organizations. (Antaranews)
May
Indonesia continues crackdown on armed Papuan terrorists: minister
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesia's top security minister, Mahfud MD, highlighted the government’s priority to seek peaceful solutions to the Papuan issue though will continue to crack down on armed Papuan terrorist groups that have threatened most Papuan communities.
Law enforcement operations are continued against armed terrorists to stop their acts of violence against 92 percent of the Papuan communities that are the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia's (NKRI's) loyalists, according to Mahfud MD.
"Some 92 percent of the Papuan communities are NKRI's loyalists based on the outcome of a survey," Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD noted in a press statement that ANTARA quoted in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Outcome of the recent survey, jointly conducted by the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) along with universities and several other credible institutions, revealed that 82 percent of the respondents openly supported Indonesia's special autonomy draft bill.
Furthermore, 10 percent of the respondents said they would go ahead with whatever was decided for Papua's greater good, while eight percent of the respondents directly rejected the continuation of Papua's special autonomy, Mahfud MD revealed.
Those rejecting the continuation of Papua's special autonomy could be divided into three groups: the political, clandestine, and armed wings.
"What we are now facing are members of the armed group that have disrupted the security of 92 percent of Papuan communities (that are the loyalists of NKRI)," he stated.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday afternoon, Mahfud MD received several top figures of the Indonesian Communion of Churches and Bible Institutions (PGLII) and Priest Advisory Council (MPP). PGLII chairman, Priest Ronny Mandang, and MPP chairperson, Priest Nus Reimas, were among them.
Priest Mandang was quoted in the press statement as saying that the Indonesian Evangelical Christian Church (GKII) held an influential position in Papua's remote and mountainous areas.
Hence, the PGLII has offered the government to serve as a mediator for a peaceful dialog with Papuan groups.
"On April 6, 2021, we had held a dialogue with church leaders there. They are optimistic that the government would be willing to open a dialog and that the acts of violence in Papua would immediately end," he was quoted as saying.
Priest Reimas drew attention to the significance of cultural approaches for the native Papuans living and growing up in diverse environments.
In response to inputs from Mandang and Reimas, Mahfud MD praised those in Papua that are keen to function as mediators.
At the meeting, he also shared information on the government's policies on Papua; prosperity-based approaches for handling the Papua issue; constructive dialog; and law enforcement operations against armed separatist terrorist groups. (Antaranews)
May
Minister seeks greater role of MSMEs in boosting Indonesia's economy
Written by Nur Yasmin
National Development Planning Minister/National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Head Suharso Monoarfa seeks Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to play a broader role in boosting Indonesia’s economy, with a mere 57-percent contribution to GDP.
"Some 99 percent of the businesses in Indonesia are dominated by MSMEs, which absorb 97 percent of the total number of workers, but MSMEs only contribute 57 percent to the national GDP," Monoarfa stated here on Wednesday.
The minister viewed that despite various MSME development programs being conducted by ministries and state institutions, the results had yet to be optimal.
The minister drew attention to an evaluation of MSME programs from January 2020 that pointed to moral hazard existing in the capital grants offered by ministries and state institutions to MSMEs.
"This is since it does not have to be returned and utilized for non-business related purposes," he stated.
Meanwhile, the ministry's Deputy in charge of Population and Manpower, concurrently Deputy Chairman of Bappenas, Pungky Sumadi, stated that such conditions indicated that the assistance process was not optimal as it was conducted by ministries and institutions that have no tasks and functions to develop MSMEs.
The Ministry/Bappenas, Ministry of Finance, SME and Cooperatives Ministry, and other concerned ministries and institutions will evaluate the MSME development programs as a basis for budget allocation in 2022.
He opined that the role of the SME and Cooperatives Ministry, as the coordinator of the MSME development programs, should be bolstered. Companies partnering with MSMEs should receive incentives. (Antaranews)
May
Over 10 million Indonesians fully vaccinated against COVID-19
Written by Nur Yasmin
With 99,353 people receiving COVID-19 jabs on Wednesday, the total number of fully vaccinated Indonesians reached 10,224,833, according to data provided by the Health Ministry.
Meanwhile, as many as 205,692 people received their first vaccine dose on Wednesday, bringing the total number of people who have received their first shot to 15,535,998.
The government is targeting to vaccinate 40,349,049 people, including healthcare workers, public service sector workers, and elderly citizens during the first and second phases of the national immunization program.
Overall, the government is planning to vaccinate 181.5 million people, or about 70 percent of the population, to build herd immunity against the novel coronavirus disease.
COVID-19 vaccinations are still being administered in several regions of Indonesia. As part of the implementation of the vaccination program, the government is also monitoring post-immunization follow-up incidents (AEFI).
According to spokesperson for the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, Wiku Adisasmito, investigations have shown that 27 deaths that were purportedly linked to the Sinovac vaccine turned out to have been caused by some other conditions.
As many as 10 deaths were due to COVID-19, 14 were caused by heart and blood vessel disease, one death was linked to sudden kidney dysfunction, and two deaths occurred due to uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension, he explained. (Antaranews)
May
Finance Minister pegs April state budget deficit at Rp138.1 trillion
Written by Nur Yasmin
The state budget (APBN) deficit reached Rp138.1 trillion, or 13.7 percent of this year's target of Rp1,006.4 trillion, as of April, 2021, according to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.
The deficit of Rp138.1 trillion accounted for 0.83 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), she said adding, the deficit target for this year has been fixed at 5.7 percent of the GDP.
"The state budget deficit up to April has slightly improved. (The deficit of) Rp138.1 trillion is also relatively smaller (compared to March, 2021), and we will try to maintain this without disrupting the trend of economic recovery, ” Indrawati told a joint meeting of Commission XI of the House of Representatives in Jakarta on Monday.
When viewed on a quarterly basis, the deficit realization up to April was lower than the previous month, when it was recorded at Rp144.2 trillion, she added.
The deficit arose from lower state revenue collection of Rp585 trillion, or just 33.5 percent of the state budget target of Rp1,743.6 trillion, she explained.
State income grew 6.5 percent year on year, which was higher than the realization of state revenue as of April, 2020, when it grew by 3.2 percent, or Rp549.4 trillion.
The realization of state revenue include tax revenue of Rp374.9 trillion, or 30.5 percent of the state budget target of Rp1,229.6 trillion. The revenue from tax contracted 0.5 percent compared to the same period of last year, when it was pegged at Rp376.6 trillion.
Meanwhile, customs and excise revenues were recorded at Rp78.7 trillion, or 36.6 percent of the Rp215-trillion target, or up 36.5 percent year on year.
"We hope that the export recovery, manufacturing will continue to contribute and the momentum can be seen starting April and May (2021),” Indrawati said.
In addition, non-tax state revenue (PNBP) swelled by 14.9 percent (yoy), with realization reaching Rp131.3 trillion, or 44 percent of the Rp298.2-trillion target, due to revenue flow from the commodities side.
Furthermore, for grants, Rp 0.1 trillion, or 5.7 percent of the state budget target of Rp0.9 trillion, was realized, reflecting a growth of 94.2 percent year on year.
On the other hand, state spending as of April, 2021 reached Rp723 trillion, or 26.3 percent of the Rp2,750 trillion target, reflecting an increase of 15.9 percent year on year.
"State spending is a powerful instrument to encourage economic recovery with growth up to April reaching 15.9 percent," the Finance Minister said.
The minister further informed that central government spending was recorded at Rp489.8 trillion, or 25.1 percent of the target of Rp1,954.5 trillion, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 28.1 percent.
Central government spending included ministries / institutions expenditure of Rp278.6 trillion, or 27 percent of the Rp1,032-trillion target, and showed a 37.2-percent increase compared to the same period of last year when it was recorded at Rp203.1 trillion.
Meanwhile, non-ministries / institutions expenditure stood at Rp211.3 trillion, or 22.9 percent of the target Rp922.6 trillion. Year-on-year, the expenditure showed an increase of 17.7 percent. (Antaranews)