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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
SOEs as "aircraft carrier" for Indonesia's economy: minister
Written by Nur Yasmin
State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir has likened SOEs as a large aircraft carrier which unites all parties to establish an economic balance.
"SOEs are one third of Indonesia's economic strength. However, they cannot become an ivory tower that is attractive, but difficult to be held. Thus, currently, they become a huge aircraft carrier which accommodate all parties to build economic balance," he said.
Speaking at the Launching of Project Management Office (PMO) Kopi Nusantara in Bandar Lampung City, Lampung Province, on Sunday, he continued that SOEs support business growth for all parties.
However, the enterprises must also ensure the welfare of Indonesian people since they are state-run companies which have their own corporate social responsibility, Thohir said.
Hence, the corporations strive to build various people-centered ecosystems, such as the existing Prosperity Program which provides an ecosystem that connects farmers with project leaders, insurance providers, financial institutions, agricultural technology providers, off-takers, and local governments.
The ministry wants the farmers to become more prosperous through the program.
"I assure that SOEs have changed since we have committed to collaborating with all parties," the minister emphasized.
Earlier, he said that the state-run companies are striving to become a locomotive in building national economic resilience, and are not to compete with the private sector.
He has noted that it is impossible for any party to stand alone amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, all of them must work together since the pandemic does not only suppress the health sector, but also the economic sector.
Thus, he has stated that the pandemic must be a revival momentum for Indonesia. The nation has experienced a number of crises and always been able to rise afterward.
At the same occasion, Thohir also dispatched the first exports of Lampung coffee in 2022 by symbolically locked the key of the coffee container.
Meanwhile, the PMO Kopi Nusantara is a pilot project of the establishment of coffee ecosystem from the upstream to the downstream sectors. (Antaranews)
January
Indonesia to prioritize AstraZeneca as booster vaccine in Q1 2022
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Indonesian Government would prioritize the use of AstraZeneca vaccine as booster dose in the first quarter of 2022, an official of the Health Ministry said.
"For the first quarter of 2022, booster vaccine allocation will prioritize AstraZeneca vaccine considering its ample supply," the ministry's spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccination, Siti Nadia Tarmidzi, said here on Sunday.
AstraZeneca vaccine can be administered with an interval of eight weeks after the full-dose primary vaccination.
The booster vaccination could be conducted simultaneously in all districts/cities regardless the achievement of 70 percent vaccination target and 60 percent of first dose vaccination for the elderly.
Those who will receive the booster vaccine are required to show their identity card numbers or PeduliLindungi application, 18 years old or above, already have full-dose primary vaccination at least six months before the booster vaccination.
People who received Sinovac as primary vaccine would get half dose of AstraZeneca (0.25 ml) or half dose of Pfizer (0.15 ml) as booster vaccine while those who received AstraZeneca as primary vaccine would get half dose of Moderna (0.25 ml), half dose of Pfizer (0.15 ml), or full dose of AstraZeneca (0.5 ml) as booster vaccine.
"These (vaccine cocktail) has been studied by health experts such as the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI), the Drug and Food Monitoring Agency (BPOM) as well as academics," she said.
A study found that a third booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine made by AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, or Johnson & Johnson increases antibody levels significantly in those who have previously received two doses of Sinovac shot. (Antaranews)
January
President encourages farmers to get involved in off-farm sector
Written by nuke
Illustration : a Farmer in paddy field -
President Joko Widodo has urged farmers to penetrate the post-harvest sector in order to take advantage of the added value of the agricultural sector.
He delivered his statement during a virtual event broadcast from the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Saturday.
By getting involved in the post-harvest sector, farmers can also take part in the downstream activities of agricultural commodities, he said. This is also part of Indonesia's structural transformation, which includes a natural resource downstreaming program, he added.
“We have to conduct this downstreaming in all sectors. Farmers must be strong in farm (cultivation). So, innovation in agriculture and animal husbandry must be expedited. But don't stop there," Widodo remarked.
Downstreaming should be implemented in every sector that utilizes Indonesia's natural resources, he said.
He stressed his commitment to ceasing the exports of raw materials, such as bauxite, copper, tin, and gold, in the next few years.
The government banned the export of nickel ore starting January 1, 2020, based on the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministerial Regulation Number 11 of 2019, he noted. Several years prior, the government had also extensively implemented a nickel downstreaming program, Widodo said.
"Not only nickel('s export) I stop. This year we may stop (exporting) bauxite, next year copper, next year tin, next year gold. There is no such thing as exporting raw materials anymore," he remarked.
Steel, as one of the nickel derivative products, could generate exports of up to US$20.9 billion, a significant increase compared to 2014, when the exports of steel were valued at just US$1.1 billion, he pointed out.
"In 2022, I think we can achieve nickel-specific exports, which can reach US$28–30 billion, that is around Rp420 trillion. That's an estimate," he informed.
Apart from downstreaming, there are several agendas for Indonesia's structural transformation, including digital economic transformation, energy transition, and the development of the national capital in Kalimantan, he said//ANT
January
ICMI will find strategy for facing current challenges: Jokowi
Written by nuke
A screenshot of President Joko Widodo on Saturday (January 29, 2022). He said has the government is working hard to oversee a major transformation in Indonesia that will enable the nation to compete at the global level. (ANTARA/Indra Arief) -
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has said that he is optimistic the Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals Association (ICMI) will find new ways and strategies to face the rapid changes and challenges the world is witnessing currently.
He made the remarks while opening the ICMI's national working meeting virtually from the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Saturday.
"The challenges we are facing, including those that will be faced by ICMI in the future, are increasingly difficult; but ICMI, as a forum of scholars, will always be able to find new ways, new strategies for facing challenges and the fast-changing world today," the President remarked.
The theme of the ICMI's national working meeting is in accordance with the agenda of the nation, namely transformation for finding the right way to deal with the changing times, challenges, and opportunities, he noted.
Change often comes unexpectedly, such as the COVID-19 pandemic that has raged across the world, including in Indonesia, for the last two years, Jokowi said.
“There are many things that are beyond our imagination when we make plans. Uncertainty can come suddenly without us expecting it,” he added.
He further said that he believes that victory can be achieved by the Indonesian people not only thanks to good planning, but also because of the speed of transformation and adaptation to existing challenges and opportunities.
He also emphasized the importance of working efficiently and effectively, as well as utilizing the capabilities of scholars and technology.
He assured that the government is working hard to oversee a major transformation in Indonesia that will enable the nation to compete at the global level, which is getting increasingly hypercompetitive.
“We have to open the widest possible job opportunities, we have to prosper the farmers, fishermen, industrial workers. We must facilitate MSME (micro, small, and medium enterprise) actors to advance to digitalization. We must support domestic products increase. Hence, we must facilitate large, medium, and small investments from within and outside the country," he added.
Indonesia's structural transformation agendas include cessation of raw material exports for the sake of industrial downstreaming, transformation of the digital economy, and the construction of the State Capital (IKN) in East Kalimantan, Jokowi said.
“The capital city development (IKN) program is an important part of that transformation. The IKN program is not just moving buildings, moving the government. Moving the capital is changing the way of working, changing the mindset based on a modern economy, and building a more just and inclusive social life," he remarked//ANT
January
President urges COVID patients to utilize telemedicine services
Written by nuke
A screenshot of President Joko Widodo delivering a statement on the development of COVID-19 on Friday (January 28, 2022). (ANTARA/Desca Lidya Natalia) -
President Joko Widodo has asked asymptomatic COVID-19 patients or those with mild symptoms to utilize telemedicine services to ease the burden on hospitals.
"When your PCR test result is positive without experiencing any symptoms, you can conduct self-isolation at home for five days. If you have symptoms such as cough, runny nose, or fever, please use the telemedicine service or go to the community health center or the nearest doctor," he said at the Bogor Presidential Palace on Friday.
According to the President, telemedicine is one method to ease the burden on health facilities.
"This is important so that our health facilities can focus on handling (COVID-19) patients with severe symptoms and patients suffering from other diseases who need intensive care," he explained.
Indonesia is currently witnessing an increase in daily COVID-19 cases, especially of the Omicron variant, he said.
The increase is predicted to continue for several weeks, he noted.
By learning from the surge in Omicron cases that occurred in several countries earlier, the government has made a lot of preparations to deal with the potential surge, President Widodo said.
"Improvement in various health facilities and infrastructure has been adjusted to the character of the Omicron variant, which is different from the previous variant and requires different handling," he noted.
He said that one of the improvements made by the government has been in the provision of telemedicine services.
"Not all Omicron cases need direct (health) services because the symptoms are not dangerous. The most important thing is to minimize (social) contact; this will prevent (COVID-19) transmission from getting wider," he informed.
The President also appealed to the community to remain calm and not panic.
"Always implement health protocols, reduce unnecessary activities. I invite all of you to take care of your health as well as possible to boost immunity," he remarked.
The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Indonesia in March 2020. According to data provided by the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of January 28, 2022, at least 4,319,175 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the country, while 4,131,333 people have recovered and 144,268 people have succumbed to the virus//ANT
January
Need more geothermal plants to support clean energy penetration: DEN
Written by nuke
Geothermal plants will allow the nation to produce electricity continuously and support solar energy and wind power plants, which can only produce electricity when there is sunlight or when the wind is blowing, according to the National Energy Council (DEN). (ANTARA/HO-PLN) -
The optimal development of geothermal power plants (PLTP) is necessary to support the penetration of solar and wind power plants that produce electricity intermittently, member of the National Energy Council (DEN), Herman Darnel Ibrahim, has said.
"Its maximum development in the future is needed to support the penetration of intermittent power plants such as solar power plants (PLTS) and wind power plants (PLTB), which will then support the energy transition towards net-zero emissions," he explained during a discussion related to the nation's geothermal potential here on Thursday.
Geothermal is a potential natural resource for Indonesia since the country is located in the Ring of Fire, he noted adding, it will potentially allow the nation to produce electricity continuously and support solar energy and wind power plants, which can only produce electricity when there is sunlight or when the wind is blowing.
"The installed capacity of stun magma in Indonesia is recorded at 2,384.9 megawatts (MW) or about 10 percent of the total resources of 24 thousand MW," he noted. This capacity is the second largest in the world after the United States, he pointed out.
"Electricity from geothermal energy is a base load generator that can continuously (generate electricity). So, this is very different from intermittent solar energy or wind energy," said Ibrahim.
The average installed capacity growth of geothermal energy in Indonesia is just 60 MW per year, he said. In comparison, the average growth in installed capacity of geothermal electricity globally is 200 MW per year, he added.
The recently published Electricity Supply Business Plan Fund (RUPTL) of the State Electricity Company (PLN) has set a target of generating 5,474 MW of power from geothermal power plants by 2030, he noted.
"The development of PLTPs is currently still slow due to the price policy, which is considered by the developer to be unattractive. However, if the price is raised, it will be a burden for the government and PLN," explained Ibrahim.
"While national electricity consumption is estimated to reach around 2 thousand TWh in 2050, the maximum role of geothermal power plants is estimated to only meet about 10 percent of the need," he added//ANT
January
Indonesia and China renew bilateral currency swap arrangement
Written by nuke
Illustration - The logo of Bank Indonesia. (ANTARA/HO-BI Documentation/KT) -
Bank Indonesia (BI) and China's central bank, the People's Bank of China (POBC), renewed the Bilateral Currency Swap Arrangement (BCSA), which came into effect from January 21, 2022.
The BCSA agreement allows central banks to obtain foreign exchange from partner central banks by swapping each country's local currency in order to be exchanged back on the agreed due time period.
"The BCSA agreement makes it possible for exchanges in both (Indonesia's and China's) local currencies up to 250 billion Chinese Yuan (equivalent to about Rp550 billion), which is also equivalent to about US$38.8 billion," BI Chief Executive of Communications Erwin Haryono stated here on Thursday.
Haryono noted that BCSA is a form of bilateral financial cooperation that is commonly implemented by central banks.
Moreover, he explained that the cooperation agreement aims to encourage bilateral trade and direct investment in each country's local currency for encouraging economic development in both countries. In addition, the BCSA agreement demonstrates the commitment of both central banks to maintain financial market stability.
Apart from the People's Bank of China, BI has also forged financial cooperation with other central banks in several countries in the region, such as South Korea, Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
The BCSA between BI and POBC was first signed in March 2009 and has been through several amendments and extensions, Haryono highlighted.
According to Haryono, it reflects strong cooperation between BI and POBC in the field of finance. Thus, it is expected to further boost market confidence in both countries' economic fundamentals.
Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has assessed that Indonesia's policies on macroeconomics and finance in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and boosting economic recovery can grow credible market confidence, Finance Ministry's Head of the Fiscal Policy Agency, Febrio Kacaribu, stated.
Indonesia was observed as being a country that has successfully handled the pandemic without sacrificing on financial stability, Kacaribu remarked//ANT
January
Vice President calls for joint efforts for preventing radicalism
Written by nuke
Vice President Ma'ruf Amin. (ANTARA/HO-BPMI Setwapres/pri) -
Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has said that radicalism, extremism, and terrorism must be jointly stamped out by all parties to keep them from damaging the national fabric.
"We know that radicalism can trigger the emergence of extremism and terrorism, which can damage the foundations of this nation's life. We must prevent this jointly," he stressed at the National Halaqa I, organized by the Indonesian Ulema Council's Counter-Extremism and Counterterrorism Agency (BPET-MUI) via videoconferencing and accessed from here on Wednesday.
Amin said that efforts to prevent radicalism in Indonesia cannot only rely on the role of ulemas. All elements of society, from all backgrounds, must work hand in hand to prevent the spread of radical beliefs, he added.
"Of course, ulemas will not be able to strive alone. The roles of families, teachers, and the community are essential in collaborative efforts to prevent the entry and spread of radicalism and terrorism," he noted.
The government has also strengthened countermeasures against radicalism, extremism, and terrorism in the country through the issuance of Presidential Regulation Number 7 of 2021 concerning the National Action Plan for the Prevention and Handling of Violent Extremism that Leads to Terrorism in 2020–2024, he pointed out.
"This Presidential Regulation is our reference to strengthen collaboration between ministries, agencies, local governments, ulemas, and Islamic organizations, including BPET-MUI, in order to prevent and overcome radicalism and terrorism," he said.
The vice president also appealed to all religious leaders in the regions to prioritize themes that are related to unity in their religious speeches to maintain religious tolerance and create inter-religious harmony in Indonesia.
According to Amin, religious speech should not fuel hatred or enmity among religious adherents//ANT
January
Indonesia, Singapore Agrees to Adjust the Limits of Indonesian Air Navigation Services
Written by Nur Yasmin
The cooperative relationship between Indonesia and Singapore is increasingly harmonious. Most recently, the two countries agreed to implement three strategic cooperation agreements in the fields of politics, law, and defense and security which were carried out simultaneously.
At the Leaders' Retreat meeting in Bintan, Tuesday (25-1-2022), President Joko Widodo and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong reaffirmed the commitment of Indonesia and Singapore to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two friendly countries.
At the meeting, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of three strategic cooperation documents, namely: an agreement on the adjustment of the Indonesia - Singapore flight information area boundary (realignment Flight Information Region - FIR); treaty on the Extradition of Fugitives (Extradition Treaty); and the Joint Statement of the Ministers of Defense of Indonesia and Singapore regarding the agreement to enforce the 2007 defense agreement (joint statement of MINDEF DCA).
As with the agreement to adjust the boundaries of the Indonesia-Singapore flight information area, the implementation of DCA 2007 also shows the commitment of Indonesia and Singapore to implement the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea related to the boundaries of sovereignty and sovereign rights of countries according to the principles of an archipelagic state as well as accommodation to the various interests of neighboring countries and friendly with Indonesia.
Furthermore, in addition to the three agreement documents, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment of the Republic of Indonesia and the Senior Minister / Coordinating Minister for National Security Singapore also exchanged letters (exchange of letters) which will become the framework for implementing the three strategic cooperation documents between Indonesia and Singapore. simultaneous.
"The signing of the three documents of the Indonesia-Singapore strategic agreement strengthens and enhances cooperation in the fields of law and defense and security and reflects the constructive resolution of long-standing issues between the two friendly countries," said Coordinating Minister Luhut in Bintan.
Coordinating Minister Luhut also stated that the signing of the Indonesia-Singapore bilateral cooperation document also shows the commitment of the governments of the two countries to follow up on the 2019 Leaders' Retreat agreement through policy-level coordination led by the Coordinating Ministers of the two countries. (VOI)
January
Through DAK, Gunungkidul Regency has a Representative Library Building
Written by Nur Yasmin
Gunungkidul Regency now has a representative service facility building. The construction of the new building was sourced from the physical special allocation fund (DAK) for the education sub-sector of the library worth Rp. 10 billion, which was disbursed by the central government.
According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Tuesday (25/01/22), Head of the National Library (RI), Muhammad Syarif Bando, said that the presence of the library is a manifestation of the central government's alignment in preparing basic service infrastructure.
In addition, this is an effort to accelerate the achievement of national targets in supporting the improvement of human resources (HR).
"This three-story building is a monumental event for Gunungkidul Regency, in accelerating the national agenda in order to improve the quality of human resources," said Syarif Bando, after inaugurating the Gunungkidul Regency Library Service Facility Building on Tuesday (25/1/2022).
Syarif Bando added, Indonesian people are still constrained by limited reading materials. This is based on the results of a study conducted by National Library in 34 Provinces and 220 Regencies/Cities in 2019. The study shows that 90 people are waiting for one book. Whereas the standard set by UNESCO, ideally, every person, there are three new books per year.
"Because of the IFLA manifesto, it mandates that the last seat for people who have dropped out of formal education is the library," he said. For this reason, his party encourages scientists and academics so that their knowledge can be poured into writing. Because society needs books of applied science.
"Here, we are the driving force to encourage people to believe that the transfer of knowledge, from theory and practice, is only one way, namelyreading," he continued.
Similarly, the Regent of Gunungkidul, Sunaryanta, acknowledged that literacy plays an important role in facing global developments. According to him, there is no creation of new technology without literacy.
"Literacy is very important, which in the end can provide people's welfare," he said.
With this library service facility building, Sunaryanta hopes that human resources in Gunungkidul Regency will be more advanced.
"Change will occur when we are not satisfied, and that dissatisfaction should be based on that literacy, so that future changes will be better," he hoped.
Meanwhile, Member of Commission X DPR RI, My Esti Wijayati, said that libraries have the support capacity to increase the Youth Development Index (IPP).
In 2020, the IPP nationally fell to 51.00. This is due to the Covid-19 pandemic which has an impact on one of the IPP domain sectors, namely the employment opportunity sector.
"In 2020 the national IPP fell, it was possible because at that time we were hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Where work opportunities, workers in the company experienced a decrease in job opportunities, including being laid off," he said.
In fact, with human capital and the current pandemic situation, he continued, it has opened up space for job opportunities.
"Because the National Library and regional libraries have the carrying capacity to increase IPP, which is one of the key indicators of the success of our national development through increasing human resources," he continued.
My Esti gave an example, there are many young people who improve the economy by becoming YouTubers, as well as entrepreneurship by utilizing various spaces in the marketplace.
"I ask that there are spaces in the regional library by making activities that attract young people, such as book reviews on how to promote online media," he said.
The inauguration of this library service facility building was coupled with a Talkshow on Increasing the Community Literacy Index with the theme "Library Transformation to Create a National Digital Ecosystem", followed by the inauguration of the Literacy Mother of Gunungkidul Regency Diah Purwanti Sunaryanta for the period 2022-2024, and the inauguration of 18 Literacy Mothers of Kapanewon (district) throughout the year. Gunungkidul Regency.
On the same occasion, a memorandum of understanding was also signed between the National Library of Indonesia and the Gunungkidul Regency Government, Yogyakarta State University, Gunung Kidul University (UGK), and the Yogyakarta Islamic College. (VOI-NK)