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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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January
Indonesia set to commence mass vaccination; Jokowi to get first jab
Written by Nur YasminPresident Joko Widodo has picked January 14 and January 15, 2021 to launch the initial stage of Indonesia’s mass vaccination program against COVID-19.
He has also decided to lead the immunization drive by receiving the country's first vaccine shot on January 13, 2021, in an event that will be broadcast live.
The Indonesian government will commence its vaccine program with President Widodo getting the first COVID-19 vaccine shot and the vaccination drive will continue on January 14 and 15 in several regions across the country, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian announced on Tuesday.
The President volunteered to be the first to receive the vaccine to boost the public's confidence on its safety, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin explained.
The President will receive China's Sinovac vaccine a day or two after the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) issues an emergency-use authorization for the vaccine.
The Phase III clinical trials of the Sinovac vaccine are being conducted by the University of Padjajaran and state-owned pharmaceutical company Bio Farma in Bandung, West Java, since August, 2020.
BPOM said the results of the Phase III clinical trials of the Sinovac vaccine will come out in the first week of January, 2021. The BPOM will also obtain data on clinical trials of the vaccine conducted in Brazil and Turkey in order to make a decision.
The BPOM said it has discovered two types of data indicating the Sinovac vaccine's safety, based on the results of clinical trials in the past couple of months.
The two types of data pertain to the vaccine’s immunogenicity and efficacy, BPOM spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccination, Lucia Rizka Andalusia, noted in a written statement released on Tuesday.
"This vaccine is quite safe. It has no serious side effects on its users," Andalusia noted during an Alinea Forum on ‘Halal and Security of COVID-19 Vaccine’.
She revealed that the immunogenicity data showed a good immune response in the body resulting in antibody production.
The data may help dispel lingering doubts about the vaccine among the public, she stated.
Meanwhile, executive director of the Institute for Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Studies at the Indonesian Ulemas Council (LPPOM MUI), Muti Arintawati, said she is yet to ascertain whether the Sinovac vaccine can be considered halal as more information is awaited.
The LPPOM MUI's auditors have intensively studied raw materials for production of the vaccine through literature, journals, and expert information. Even if the information is complete, the MUI will still wait for BPOM's decision on the vaccine’s safety and efficacy to decide whether to issue a halal certificate or not, according to Arintawati.
So far, three million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by China’s Sinovac Biotech have arrived in Indonesia in two batches — 1.2 million doses arrived on December 6, 2020, and 1.8 million doses on December 31, 2020. They have been distributed to various regions in Indonesia starting January 3, 2021.
The government has set a target to dispatch 29.55 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to the regions by March, 2021.
"Our target is that for January, 5.8 million (doses of) the vaccine must reach the regions. In February, 10.45 million (doses of the) vaccine must be distributed again to the regions, and thereafter, 13.3 million (doses of) vaccine must also be distributed in March," President Widodo noted at a closed-door meeting attended by ministers and governors through video-conferencing.
In the long term, at least 70 percent of the population, or 181.5 million people, are expected to be vaccinated to establish herd immunity.
For that purpose, the government is preparing to stockpile 329.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from various manufacturers.
"I also need to mention about the number of vaccine doses that we have ordered. The firm orders include three million plus 122.5 million (doses) from Sinovac, then 50 million from Novavax, 54 million from Covax GAVI, 50 million from AstraZeneca, and 50 million (doses of the) vaccine from Pfizer. It means the total number of firm orders reaches 329.5 million (doses of) vaccines," Jokowi noted at the State Palace on Wednesday.
Novavax is being manufactured by the United States and Canada, AstraZeneca by the UK, and Pfizer is being jointly produced by pharma companies based in Germany and the United States. Covax GAVI is a multilateral cooperation between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) that comprises 171 countries, with a target of providing two billion vaccines by the end of 2021.
The Indonesian government has set aside a budget of about Rp73 trillion for procuring COVID-19 vaccines for the 2021 immunization program, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, said earlier.
The Health Ministry earlier said that the mass vaccination program against COVID-19 would take 15 months to complete, but Jokowi has asked the ministry to complete it in less than a year. The Health Ministry promised to work hard to meet the President's request.
The ministry has so far dispatched the first batch of 700 thousand doses of the Sinovac vaccine to the regions. In mid-January, raw materials for manufacturing 15 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are scheduled to arrive from China. They will be processed into vaccines by PT Biofarma, as part of a cooperation with Sinovac. The vaccines will thereafter be sent to different regions.
In a survey conducted by the Indonesian General Election Study (LKPI), 81.7 percent of the respondents have said they are ready to receive COVID-19 vaccine doses under the government’s immunization program.
The government will carry out the COVID-19 vaccination program in two phases, according to Health Minister Sadikin. The first phase will last from January to April, 2021, and the second from April, 2021 to March, 2022.
Around 1.6 million healthcare workers, 17.4 million public service officers, and 21.5 million elderly people will be prioritized in the first phase of the program.
In the second phase of the program, vaccinations will be provided to 63.9 million vulnerable people living in areas with a high risk of transmission and 77.4 million persons from other communities, using a cluster approach, depending on the availability of vaccines.
Sadikin said the government consulted the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI), an independent agency, while mapping out the vaccination plan.
The President said he is optimistic that the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 would be brought under greater control after vaccination.
Jokowi, however, reminded citizens to adopt a disciplined approach in implementing the 3M health protocols to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 by wearing masks, maintaining distance, and washing hands.
"Do not go to crowded places and maintain your distance, as the key lies there until the vaccination is completed. Worldwide-vaccination is estimated to be competed in three and a half years," the President stated.
Despite the vaccination program, the authorities have advised Indonesians to continue applying the 3M health protocols.
"We must not become lax about 3M, not only in wearing masks, maintaining our distance, and washing our hands properly, and often. A crowd could become a super spreader. It is of no use for us to conduct tracing and it's pointless if there is still a crowd," Karnavian remarked.
Chairperson of the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling, Doni Monardo, also called for consistent public discipline in implementing health protocols.
"The narrative about this vaccine should not make people think that after the vaccine is available, everything will be over. No, the vaccine will not immediately stop COVID-19. The vaccine will not help unvaccinated people to escape COVID-19," he stated. (antaranews)
January
Indonesia has no intention to normalize diplomatic ties with Israel
Written by Nur YasminForeign Minister Retno Marsudi has reiterated the Indonesian government's firm stand against normalizing diplomatic ties with Israel, dispelling widespread rumors of a softening of its stance late last year.
"Up till now Indonesia has no intention to normalize diplomatic ties with Israel," the minister said at an annual press conference, held online on Wednesday.
She said Indonesia will continue to support Palestinian independence through a two-state solution, based on the United Nations Security Council resolution and already agreed upon international parameters.
Earlier, on December 16, 2020, President Joko Widodo had highlighted this support during a phone conversation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Indonesia's firm stand is in contrast to the policies of several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco, which have normalized diplomatic relations with Israel in the past few months.
This has been viewed as a setback for the Israel-Palestine peace process and as an indication that several Arab regimes no longer consider the Palestinian issue important.
However, for Indonesia, Palestine remains high on the list of foreign policy priorities, Marsudi said.
Indonesia expects that a conducive situation can be created this year with all sides committed to pursuing constructive dialog and direct negotiations, she said.
"Support for the Palestinian people to gain independence will continue," the minister remarked.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council, Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, recently reiterated his request to the Indonesian government to remain consistent in not normalizing diplomatic ties with Israel.
"All means of cooperation, including economic cooperation with Israel, must be rejected," he told reporters in Jakarta recently.
Israel, he said, has colonized the land and the people of Palestine for a long period of time. Indonesia needs to stay consistent to its identity as a nation against colonization, he added.
"We fully believe that colonization is not aligned with humanity and justice," he remarked.
The council, he continued, has expressed its highest appreciation towards the Minister of Foreign Affairs in responding to the question of normalization of diplomatic ties with Israel.
"The Ministry, especially the Minister of Foreign Affairs, that has shown a firm, clear, and consistent stance in carrying out Indonesia's foreign politics, that [has] stood against colonization from the beginning," he said. (antaranews)
January
Indonesia's tax receipts fell 19.7 percent to Rp1,070 trillion in 2020 from Rp1,332.7 trillion in 2019 due to the economic contraction and provision of tax incentives to COVID-19 affected citizens, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said.
"This caused several revenues to have been foregone or to be borne by the government because it is aimed at providing room to the public," she said at an online press conference on the realization of the 2020 state budget here on Wednesday.
The tax receipts of Rp1,070 trillion represented 89.3 percent of the target of Rp1,198.8 trillion set under Presidential Regulation No. 72 of 2020, she informed.
All types of tax receipts from oil and gas as well as non-oil/non-gas sectors recorded a contraction due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.
Income tax receipts from oil and gas in 2020 reached Rp33.2 trillion, a decline of 43.9 percent compared to Rp59.2 trillion a year earlier.
Meanwhile, non oil/non-gas tax receipts contracted 18.6 percent to Rp1,036.8 trillion from Rp1,273.5 trillion in the year-ago period.
The pandemic also posed a special challenge for the Directorate General of Taxation since 22 tax officers died of the infection. In total, 39 employees within the Finance Ministry died of COVID-19.
So far, the Finance Ministry has reported 1,171 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
"Under this current situation, the tasks of tax officers to maintain state revenues are very challenging," Indrawati remarked. (antaranews)
January
Govt ensures uninterrupted electricity subsidies for community in 2021
Written by nuke
Electricity grid network - Resources asia
The government has made assurance that electricity subsidies for the community will continue in 2021 under the efforts to bring about economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The subsidy in electricity cost will still apply in accordance with the system that was in place before," State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Minister Erick Thohir noted in an official statement in Jakarta on Saturday.
The minister remarked that 450-VA customers will receive a full fee waiver or free of charge. This is testament to the government's support for economically vulnerable communities.
"In accordance with the president's instructions, we, from the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN), recently held a meeting with the minister of energy and mineral resources, so that the State Electricity Company (PLN) continues to provide services to people in need," Thohir, concurrently chairman of the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN), remarked. The minister further expounded that the electricity cost subsidy also refers to 900-VA customers. This subsidy extension is valid from January to March 2021.
Thohir stated that the focus will again be set at the possibility of continuing to extend the subsidy in line with the conditions of the affected community.
"The government has decided to extend the time to provide assistance for electricity costs in the form of a 100-percent discount or free for 450-VA household customers and a 50-percent discount for 900-VA power household customers for the next three months until March 2021," the minister revealed.
Furthermore, the government ensures that all social safety devices will continue in order to ensure that COVID-19 handling is conducted comprehensively, with health and economic recovery prioritized//ANT
January
Success of 1st phase COVID-19 vaccination to raise public confidence
Written by nuke
Success of 1st phase COVID-19 vaccination to raise public confidence
The success of the first phase of COVID-19 vaccination in Indonesia will raise public confidence and curb coronavirus mortality rate , an epidemiologist said.
"The government should prove that the first phase of vaccination will be successful. The success will raise public confidence that the government is able to conduct mass vaccination properly," dr. Syahrizal Syarif of University of Indonesia (UI) said on Saturday.
He spoke of the first phase of the country's COVID-19 immunization plan that will cover medical workers, public service officers and elderly citizens. The first phase of COVID-19 vaccination expected to roll out from January to April 2021 will see about 1.3 million health workers, 17.4 million public service officers and 21.5 million elderly people.
The second phase of the vaccination will be conducted from April to May 2021.As part of efforts to reduce transmission and mortality rates Syahrizal highlighted the significance of vaccinating right groups particularly medical workers as front liners in the battle against the COVID-19. He also praised the government's plan to prioritize elderly citizens for the vaccination.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said earlier it will take 3.5 years for the country to vaccinate 181 million Indonesian citizens in order to achieve herd immunity against the COVID-19. The government has begun listing the first stage recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine after millions of doses from Sinovac arrived in Indonesia recently, spokesperson for vaccine-related affairs at the Health Ministry, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said//ANT
January
Lessons learned from foreign UUV discovery for Indonesia's defense
Written by nuke
a fisherman found underwater drone in Selayar - South Sulawesi Province (Daily Mail)
The recent discovery of an Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) belonging to a foreign nation deep inside Indonesia's territorial waters cannot be overlooked since it must be perceived as a real threat to national security. Sukamta, a member of the House of Representatives' (DPR's) Commission I overseeing security and foreign affairs, suggested that the government should improve Indonesia's defense and remote sensing capabilities.
To this end, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto is glaring at the challenge of boosting Indonesia's capabilities to expedite the development of remote-sensing technology. To this end, the government should push its national research agencies to meet the demands.The UUV was reportedly found by Saeruddin, a resident of Majapahit Village in Pasimarannu Sub-district, Selayar Islands District, South Sulawesi Province, on December 20, 2020. However, after having kept it at his home for a week, this 60-year-old fisherman handed it over to a local military authority.
The discovery of this underwater drone that can be used for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, deep water survey, and inspection-related purposes has come under the spotlight of Indonesia's and international media outlets. This latest development clearly shows that Indonesia must improve its maritime surveillance. While these drones may turn out to be gathering data for seemingly innocuous purposes, including advancing scientific understanding, it is important for policy makers in Jakarta to retain a healthy dose of suspicion.
In view of all circumstances, drones, such as those of the Chinese Sea Wing family, have dual civilian and military purposes. Scientific data collected during peacetime may be used by naval planners to their advantage during wartime//ANT
January
TNI sailors partake in Kuta Beach's coastal clean-up drive
Written by nuke
TNI clean up Kuta's Beach Bali - Antara
Sailors from the Denpasar Naval Base on Friday partook in the efforts to conduct a coastal clean-up drive on the Indonesian island of Bali's Kuta Beach strewn with marine debris since December 30, 2020.
"We all must start this clean-up effort," Denpasar Naval Base Commander, Colonel Ketut Budiantara, informed journalists on the sidelines of the clean-up mission.
The marine litter washing ashore this popular beach was a matter of serious concern since it not only made it appear unsightly but it could also harm coastal wildlife, he remarked. Budiantara cautioned that if the marine debris had drifted until a dock's area, it could also disrupt vessel traffic. He then appealed to local residents and tourists to keep the Kuta Beach clean. The clean-up effort was supported by a coastguard of Kuta Beach named Wayan Suadi, who stated that driftwood was harmful to those surfing at sea.
With the support of local government officials, boy scouts, police officers, and soldiers, the beach was cleared of some 30 tons of marine debris. Most of the trash was plastic waste. Head of the Environment Office at the Badung District Government I Wayan Puja drew attention to the annual problem of a mountain of trash drifting from the sea before washing ashore Kuta Beach. The marine litter, dominated by plastic waste, had turned out to be a major problem for the resort island of Bali's beaches and sea//ANT
January
Vaccine diplomacy: Indonesia aims for national, global access
Written by nuke
Sinova vaccine arrival in Indonesia (yahoo Singapore)
Indonesia has just received its "year-end present" with an additional 1.8 million doses of Sinovac vaccine landing in Jakarta on the very last day of 2020. The archipelagic nation had received the first consignment of 1.2 million doses from Sinovac earlier in December, 2020. Speaking at an online press briefing one day before the latest consignment arrived, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, had said that Indonesia's diplomacy is working to open the access for vaccine collaboration with all countries as well as mechanisms.
"I repeat, (we are seeking cooperation) with any parties, whether through bilateral track or multilateral, for vaccine procurement," Marsudi remarked."I could say that Indonesia has become one of a handful of countries which have secured vaccines for domestic needs,” she said.
“However, at the same time, aligned with the principle of equal access of vaccines for all the nations, as well as the manifested responsibility of Indonesia to the world, Indonesia contributes through CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) for global procurement,” she added. Marsudi has on many other occasions voiced the urgent need to achieve both "vaccine nationalism" and "vaccine globalism”, citing the terms floated by senior Indonesian diplomat Dino Patti Djalal.
"Vaccine is certain to be a diplomatic, political, economic, and logistical challenge. Just like COVID-19 has been the most political virus ever, the vaccine will also be political," Djalal said in the year-end-statement of his think-tank, the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia.
He projected that through this second year of COVID-19 pandemic, there would be a strong impulse for "vaccine nationalism”.
“But, the real test of international solidarity is in the realm of vaccine cooperation. And the good news is that 'vaccine globalism' is becoming a much stronger politically correct norm,” Djalal added.
During a meeting in Geneva with the CEO of Gavi The Vaccine Alliance, a co-initiator of the COVAX facility along with the World Health Organization (WHO) and CEPI, Indonesia directly and officially submitted a letter of interest to join COVAX AMC (Advanced Market Commitment)//ANT
December
Former justice minister, Undip rector Muladi passes away
Written by Nur YasminProf. Dr. H. Muladi SH, former justice minister and rector of Diponegoro University (Undip) in Semarang, Central Java, breathed his last on Thursday morning, Undip rector Yos Johan Utama stated.
"The extended family of the Academic Senate and the Professor Council of Diponegoro University lost one of their best professors," Utama noted in a short message.
Prof. Muladi, who died at 6:45 a.m. local time on Thursday, will be buried at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in South Jakarta, he remarked.
"May God give strength and patience to the bereaved family," he affirmed.
Born in Surakarta, Central Java, on May 26, 1943, Prof. Muladi was the Undip rector from 1994 to 1998.
He was appointed as justice minister and minister/state secretary during the President Soeharto-Vice President B. J. Habibie government in 1998 and 1999 and Supreme Court justice during the 2000-2001 period.
During the 2005-2011 period, he held the post of governor of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas).
Prof. Muladi once underwent treatment at the Army Hospital (RSPAD) in Jakarta before breathing his last. (antaranews)
December
PMI ready to help govt implement COVID-19 vaccine program
Written by Nur YasminThe Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) is ready to help the government implement the COVID-19 vaccination program in the community, secretary general of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), Sudirman Said, stated.
"We express our willingness because PMI has 409 units or headquarters throughout the province to assist with vaccinations," he said during a virtual discussion originating from Jakarta on Wednesday.
Some time ago, he said, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, had visited PMI headquarters to ask whether it was willing to help vaccinate citizens once the COVID-19 vaccine was ready to be officially given to the public.
Pandjaitan is also the deputy chair of the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPC-PEN).
Regarding the distribution channel, he said that so far, the PMI has good relations with various transportation companies so that it will make things easier in the field.
This has been proven by PMI, especially when organizing various logistics for areas affected by natural disasters, including distribution amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We will use the network we have, but it depends on the assignment of the government because its (the vaccine program’s) authority (rests) with the government, and PMI will only help the government," Said remarked.
Not only that, the organization, which is commanded by Jusuf Kalla, also has 224 blood donation units (UDD) spread across all regions that have technical personnel and experts who can carry out vaccinations, he added.
It is necessary to know, he continued, that logistics delivery will be a challenge considering Indonesia's vast territory and different geographical conditions.
Moreover, the vaccine would need to be always carried at a certain temperature, including the equipment, he said.
"This is indeed a challenge, but we must make it a lesson so that in the end we have new skills to handle it," he added.
The Indonesian government would carry out the COVID-19 vaccination program in two phases, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said earlier.
The first phase will last from January to April, 2021, and the second from April, 2021 to March, 2022, he said adding, health workers, public service workers, and the elderly will be prioritized in the first phase of the program.
"The first stage of vaccination for health workers in Indonesia is [going to cover] 1.3 million people. The second stage is given to about 17.4 million public officers, then 22.5 million elderly people over 60 years," Sadikin said.
The priority status for frontline health workers is in line with what is being done in other countries, he added.
Furthermore, in the second phase of the program, vaccinations will be provided to 63.9 million vulnerable people in areas with a high risk of transmission and 77.4 million persons from other communities, using a cluster approach, depending on the availability of vaccines, the minister informed.
Sadikin said the government consulted the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI), an independent agency, while mapping out the vaccination plan. The agency was tasked with providing recommendations to the Ministry of Health. (antaranews)
