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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
G20pedia launched to boost people's knowledge of global grouping
Written by Nur Yasmin
The directorate general of information and public communication (IKP) at the Communication and Informatics Ministry on Wednesday released an electronic handbook called G20pedia to strengthen public understanding of the intergovernmental forum.
The release of the handbook is important since Indonesia is the only developing country in Southeast Asia that joins the G20, director general of IKP at the ministry, Usman Kansong, said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Thus, Indonesia has a strategic opportunity to participate in determining the direction and policy for post-pandemic global economic recovery, he added.
The information contained in the G20pedia is important and should be understood by the public since, in addition to providing an understanding of Indonesia's activities at the international level, it offers an insight on the benefits of Indonesia's G20 Presidency for the community, Kansong said.
Hence, the public can take an active role in making the international event a success, he added.
"As stated by President Joko Widodo, it is hoped that Indonesia’s G20 Presidency will not only focus on the implementation of the event, but it will also have a positive impact on national and global socio-economic recovery," the director general remarked.
In the G20pedia, technical terms regarding the G20 have been simplified to aid public understanding, he said.
The electronic handbook has two parts: one provides an overview of the G20 and the other covers Indonesia's G20 Presidency, he informed.
Furthermore, Kasong said he expected the electronic book, which is also available in English, to serve as a reference for the mass media as well as the public in seeking information regarding G20 activities under Indonesia’s Presidency.
"The information in the G20pedia will continue to be updated according to the latest developments in the implementation of the 2022 G20 agenda," he added.
The electronic handbook can be accessed through linktr.ee/g20pedia and the official G20 website at www.g20.org. (antaranews)
January
Omicron spike in India reminder to remain cautious: minister
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Indonesian government is exercising caution following the infection surge in India due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has said.
The surge in cases in India needs to be watched out for because the pattern of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia is similar to India's. The only difference is that during every increase, such as during the Delta surge, India experienced a spike in cases first, she noted.
"When the Delta variant spread, COVID-19 cases in India began to spike in February and ended in July 2021, so it took a long time. And the daily peak of cases was very high, (capped) at250 thousand cases per one million population," she said during a meeting here on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Indonesia began to register an increase in Delta cases at the end of June and the surge lasted until September 2021, she said. At that time, Indonesia's daily COVID-19 cases reached 150 to 200 per one million population, she pointed out.
"Now, we see India('s cases) starting to hike up again because of Omicron, (while) Indonesia is relatively flat (in terms of the trend of infection). We hope we will continue to maintain this (state), and (for) this (thing), Mr. President is paying extra attention to its development," Indrawati informed.
Compared to during the Delta surge, restrictions on community activities in several countries have seemed more relaxed amid the spread of the Omicron variant, Indrawati noted.
The minister said that the phenomenon was owing to vaccinations and the fact that Omicron's symptoms are not as severe as those of the Delta variant.
"So that if the community maintains discipline in (following the) health protocols and wants to get vaccinations, especially boosters, it is believed that they will be able to conduct economic activities and activities, as per usual," she said.
Thus, it is expected that the economy will continue to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indrawati added.
Moreover, unlike the 1998 crisis, which took longer to recover from, recovery from the economic crisis caused by the spread of COVID-19 has been much quicker, she observed.
"It seems that our economy was down and then recovered, then Delta hit, and then it recovered. So in this case, resilience and recovery ability are much better than the 1997–1998 crisis. Of course, this is because our policy instruments are more complete," she added.
Indrawati further said that she would refer to the ministry document on the management of the state budget every time they face a crisis. "So that if there is another crisis, we can see what we have done before," she added. (Antaranews)
January
Red and White vaccine development remains priority: Official
Written by Nur Yasmin
Development of the Red and White vaccine to handle COVID-19 remains a priority in the National Research and Innovation Agency's research and innovation activities, according to the agency's head, Laksana Tri Handoko.
Handoko emphasized that developing the ability to self-sufficiently create and develop the Red and White Vaccine was much more important than having that vaccine. The agency head stated through his official statement received here on Tuesday.
Handoko affirmed that the ability to develop vaccines independently would be an important asset, since so far, vaccines in Indonesia were products from overseas.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has left the agency and other institutions with no choice but to conduct research on COVID-19 vaccines.
The Red and White Vaccine is one type of vaccine that is expected to be produced nationally.
The agency is building two main infrastructures to support the development of the Red and White vaccine: a production infrastructure, with GMP standards, and a phase 2 preclinical test facility in the Cibinong Science Center area in Bogor, West Java.
Handoko expects the two infrastructures to be ready by the end of the first quarter of 2022, so that they could immediately be used to develop vaccines for humans and animals in future. Thus, they were not limited to the Red and White COVID-19 vaccine.
He also expects the vaccine to be completed soon, so the public can utilize it.
However, manufacturing and developing vaccines was not an easy task, as no one in Indonesia had the experience of creating vaccines from scratch, he pointed out.
All stakeholders involved in the creation process were working hard to develop potential COVID-19 vaccines to help meet domestic vaccine requirements, but all of them do require a collaborative process and efforts to realize it, he stated.
As many as seven teams were involved in the development of the Red and White vaccine in the national consortium.
Acting Head of the Life Sciences Research Organization at the National Research and Innovation Agency, Iman Hidayat, stated that Airlangga University had made the swiftest progress in developing the Red and White vaccine.
The university, along with PT Biotis, completed conducting preclinical testing on monkeys. Hidayat delivered the statement here on Saturday, January 15.
The seven teams in the national consortium for the development of the Red and White vaccine comprised Airlangga University, University of Indonesia, Bandung Institute of Technology, Gadjah Mada University, Padjadjaran University, the former Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), and the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology.
"Each team develops the Red and White vaccine with different methods, ranging from vaccines based on virus inactivation to vaccines based on recombinant proteins," he concluded. (Antaranews)
January
President Jokowi urges residents to get booster vaccine doses
Written by Nur Yasmin
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has urged residents to get their COVID-19 booster vaccine to boost the body's immunity against the disease when the efficacy of the first two vaccine doses starts to decline.
"During the pandemic, vaccination is also important. Those who are yet to be vaccinated, go get your vaccine; while those who have received their first vaccine dose, get your second dose; and those who have completed the two doses, promptly get your booster dose," Jokowi stated in a video broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel on Tuesday.
"All vaccine doses are offered for free, as vaccination is important for our safety," the president remarked.
Indonesia is currently experiencing a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases due to the newly emerging Omicron variant, he remarked.
"Hence, we must be vigilant, yet must not overreact, to the current situation. We must be careful and vigilant, but we must neither arouse fear nor panic," Jokowi emphasized.
The president pointed out that some medical researches, including a WHO report about the virus variant, revealed that the Omicron variant's transmission rate is higher than other virus strains.
"Yet most patients infected by the variant reported only minor symptoms, and they have recovered even without hospitalisation. (Despite this,) we must remain vigilant and not become complacent," he affirmed.
Jokowi also urged residents, with no urgent business, to refrain from engaging in activities at crowded places and those, who can work from home, to continue with that mode of working.
"I also suggest those who currently can work from home to continue working from home," the president remarked.
Authorities have begun offering booster vaccine doses since last Wednesday (Jan 12, 2022) for the elderly and in regions where the coverage for the first and second vaccine doses had reached a minimum of 70 and 60 percent, respectively.
The National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) has also granted emergency use authorisation to five vaccine brands -- Sinovac/CoronaVac, Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Zifivax -- to be used as booster vaccines. (Antaranews)
January
National capital relocation to help realize Vision 2045: minister
Written by Nur Yasmin
The relocation of the national capital to East Kalimantan is one of the government's strategies for realizing Indonesia's Vision 2045, Minister of National Development Planning (PPN), Suharso Monoarfa, has said.
Vision 2045 reflects Indonesia's aspiration to become a high-income country and join the world's top five economic powers, Monoarfa, who is also the head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), stated at the plenary meeting of the House of Representatives here on Tuesday.
"The relocation will be carried out to realize Indonesia's Vision 2045, including more inclusive and equitable economic growth through accelerating development in the eastern region," he added.
Monoarfa said the selection of East Kalimantan as the new national capital was based on several considerations, such as the superiority of the region.
Its selection is also in accordance with the vision of the emergence of a new economic center of gravity in the center of the archipelago, he explained.
Based on its location, the new national capital will be very strategic as it is in the middle of Indonesian territory, flanked by the archipelagic sea route in the Makassar Strait, which also acts as a sea route for national and regional parks, the minister elaborated.
The location also has relatively complete infrastructure, such as airports, ports, and better roads as well as the availability of other infrastructures, such as adequate networks, energy, and drinking water, he noted.
The new national capital is also close to two supporting cities that have developed, namely Balikpapan and Samarinda, he said. Meanwhile, the availability of land controlled by the government in the region is also highly adequate for the development of the national capital, while the risk of disaster in the region is also very minimal, he noted.
Hence, the government believes that the construction of the new national capital will target the four main pillars of Indonesia's Vision 2045, including human development and mastery of science and technology, the minister added.
The next vision is sustainable economic development, equitable development, and strengthening of national resilience, as well as good governance, Monoarfa said.
The minister said that the relocation would help realize Vision 2045, which aims for more inclusive and equitable economic growth, through accelerated development in eastern Indonesia.
It is hoped that the new national capital will boost the economy of Kalimantan and trigger the strengthening of domestic value chains throughout the eastern region, which will eventually be evenly distributed throughout the country, he added.
The development of the national capital will also place Indonesia in a more strategic position in terms of global trade routes, investment flows, and technological innovation, he informed.
The new national capital will also be a model for sustainable city development, driven by the application of the latest technology, while maintaining and even restoring the surrounding environmental conditions, he said.
"Our vision to create a world city for all not only describes the people who will live in the capital in the future, but also the environmental conditions that will also be restored and maintained," he explained. (Antaranews)
January
Government allocates US$5.9 billion for Papua for 2022
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Indonesian government has allocated a budget of Rp84.7 trillion (US$5.9 billion) for the provinces of Papua and West Papua for 2022, the Ministry of Finance, through its Directorate General of Finance Balance, has informed.
"The figure has increased from Rp79.7 trillion in 2020, but decreased from Rp85.8 trillion in 2021 because there was a spending at the central (government level), which was the National Economic Recovery (PEN) in 2021," director of general fund transfer at the ministry, Adriyanto, said during a meeting on the Papua Development Acceleration Master Plan (RIPPP) for 2022–2041 here on Monday.
The government's budget for Papua and West Papua in 2022 includes Rp12.9 trillion for special autonomy funds, additional infrastructure funds, regional and village transfer funds (TKDD) of Rp50.2 trillion, and spending of ministries/institutions of Rp21.6 trillion, he informed.
Of the total Rp84.7 trillion, Rp27.24 trillion has been set aside for West Papua and Rp57.41 trillion for Papua, Adriyanto highlighted.
"We see that the expenditure of ministries/institutions was huge in 2021 (Rp21.6 trillion). This is our task together for RIPPP on how to synergize this spending fund with the local government's spending," he said.
He also advised that the central and local governments in Papua not hold the same activities or programs so government spending can be made more efficient.
"Enormous spending budget is good, but the same (kind of) activities should not happen. Excessive activities can cause inefficiencies in the project and use of budget," he said.
The Indonesian government is drafting the Papua Development Acceleration Master Plan (RIPPP) for the period 2022–2041. RIPPP is based on Law No. 2 of 2021 concerning Papua's special autonomy and Government Regulation No. 107 of 2021 on Approval, Management, Supervision, and RIPPP in the Realization of Special Autonomy of Papua Province. (antaranews)
January
Indonesian government devising development plan for Papua
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Indonesian Government is currently formulating the 2022–2041 Papua Development Acceleration Master Plan (RIPP), expert staff to the National Development Planning (PPN/Bappenas) Minister, Oktorialdi, said during a meeting here on Monday.
The 2022–2041 Papua RIPP is based on Law No. 2 of 2021 on Special Autonomy for Papua, he added.
It is also based on Government Regulation No. 107 of 2021 on Admission, Management, Monitoring, and Development Acceleration Master Plan in Implementing Papua Special Autonomy, he informed.
"This RIPP document contains a projection of Papua's condition in 2041," he said.
"We have imagined Papua's condition in 2041. We have imagined what will happen in Papua 20 years from now based on existing conditions, both the potential and challenges," he added.
In terms of demographics, it is estimated that the population of Papua will increase with rising immigration, he said.
Papua's population is also projected to be concentrated in shoreline cities, which relates to the economic pattern of cities and villages, he added.
"Papua will also face various challenges that concern the quality of education, skills, and health that mirror the Papuan Native People's (OAP) competence," Oktorialdi said.
"Realizing a productive OAP along with increasing jobs has become an important challenge that we face," he observed.
In 20 years, Papua will also have a number of new provinces that will become new economic centers, he added.
This will also create challenges for the regional bureaucracy and will necessitate quality, equal, and balanced public services, he said.
"The quality of Papuan human resources in 2041 is expected to improve along with the declining poverty rate and increasing regional fiscal independence," Oktorialdi noted.
In terms of natural resource potential, various natural resources of Papua are expected to be managed sustainably and inclusively, especially for indigenous people and OAP, he informed.
"Papuan forests will also play an important role as a pillar for the blue-green economy and climate change," he said.
Papua will also face digitalization challenges as the changes in technology, information, and communication affect various aspects of life, he added.
"In addition, there are also geopolitical and state border changes that Papua should handle as Indonesia's front gate in the Pacific region," he remarked. (Antaranews)
January
Indonesia to actively participate in 2022 ASEAN Tourism Forum
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Indonesian government will actively participate in the 2022 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Cambodia on January 17-20, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno stated.
"I will be present virtually on account of the Omicron situation in Indonesia in line with President Joko Widodo's directive," the minister remarked during a weekly press briefing here on Monday.
The 2022 ATF highlights the issue of "ASEAN – A Community of Peace and Shared Future" that encourages collaboration among all Southeast Asian countries and holistically promotes ASEAN as a destination that has diverse cultures, cuisines, and communities.
The 2022 ATF is aimed at connecting key stakeholders in the travel industry, as the forum will be attended by more than one hundred sellers and one hundred buyers from 25 different countries, 50 national and international media, as well as the ministers of tourism from each country.
Indonesia will participate in ATF's Travel Exchange (Travex), which functions as a platform for ASEAN tourism entities looking to market their products and services to foreign buyers. Hence, Indonesia's participation in Travex can promote the country's tourism sector.
Furthermore, Indonesian sellers can directly interact with buyers, who provide vacation packages to consumers.
"In 2022, Wonderful Indonesia will focus on the five Super-Priority Tourism Destinations of Mandalika in Lombok, Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Likupang in North Sulawesi, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, and Borobudur in Central Java," Uno pointed out.
Moreover, Wonderful Indonesia will present 15 Indonesian tourism companies at 2022 ATF as well as set up a pavilion spanning 108 square meters in width, with 12 stands showcasing Mandalika as its main theme.
The presence of Wonderful Indonesia at the 2022 ATF is expected to provide updates about Indonesia, such as information about re-opening of the country's gates, the five super-priority destinations, tourism sector recovery plan, and the topic of Indonesia holding several international events this year.
This event is deemed crucial, as Indonesia will be handed over the task to host the 2023 ATF in Yogyakarta.
"We hope that the 2023 ATF will create a momentum for national and regional recovery," Uno added. (Antaranews)
January
Indonesian gov't encourages MSMEs to penetrate global market
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Cooperative, Small and Medium-scale Enterprises Ministry has encouraged MSMEs to improve competitiveness to penetrate the global market and increase their contribution to Indonesia's export.
"This is one of our priorities to encourage micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to enter global market," the ministry's Deputy for SME Hanung Harimba Rachman said in a statement here on Sunday.
Rachman made the statement at the launching of 150 containers of MSME's soap export to six countries in Africa and the Middle East on Saturday (Jan 15, 2022).
The government, he continued, has targeted to increase the MSMEs' contribution to 17 percent to the total export by 2024, from currently 15.6 percent.
To reach the target, MSMEs would need to have cheaper logistical cost and faster administrative services for export.
According to Rachman, one main problem for the MSMEs is related to limited availability of containers that makes the transportation cost jump by 300 percent, while the risk of product damage has also increased due to the long period of storage.
Another problem is the absence of market intelligence that makes the MSMEs hard to map product potential and capacity, get international certificate and export funding for them.
"The contribution of our MSMEs to Indonesia's export is still lagging behind China's MSMEs that have 68 percent of contribution and logistic performance index of 3.61 (in the scale of 1-5), and India with 40 percent of contribution and logistic performance index 3.18," he said.
The ministry has developed some programs to establish a conducive export environment for MSMEs, including the establishment of SMESCO eastern hub for MSME products from the eastern regions of Indonesia.
It also established the SMESCO Labo to improve MSME's capability. (Antaranews)
January
Fisheries Ministry designates two marine conservation areas
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has designated two marine conservation areas in the provinces of West Java and West Sumatra, covering some 45 thousand hectares of marine area.
"One instrument of natural resource management by the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry is the designation of an area as marine conservation area," acting Director General of Marine Spatial Management of the ministry Pamuji Lestari said in a statement here on Sunday.
The two conservation areas are Pangandaran waters in West Java and West Pariaman waters in West Sumatra.
Marine conservation area has become a crucial instrument in the management of marine and fisheries resources as it will preserve the habitat and give the benefit to the ecosystem as well as people living in the coastal area.
Lestari said, as of 2021, the ministry has set 81 conservation areas covering a total 13.93 million hectares of marine area.
The ministry has targeted to increase the marine conservation area by two million hectares in 2022, she said.
The conservation area would be located in 19 provinces namely West Java, West Sumatra, Maluku, North Kalimantan, Riau Islands, Yogyakarta, West Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, East Kalimantan, West Nusa Tenggara, Riau, Bengkulu, Lampung, Bangka Belitung Islands, East Nusa Tenggara, Central Kalimantan, Southeast Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, and West Papua.
"The designation of marine conservation area is in accordance with the global commitment in the Convention on Biological Diversity (Aichi Target 11) and Sustainable Development Goals 14," she remarked.
Meanwhile, Director of Marine Conservation and Biodiversity Andi Rusandi said the designation of the 38,810 hectares of Pangandaran waters as a marine conservation area is aimed at protecting sea turtle and lobster habitat.
Rusandi cited a study showing that four out of six sea turtle species in Indonesia can be found in Pangandaran. They are green turtle, olive ridley sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle and flatback turtle.
"The designation of a conservation area in Pangandaran waters under the category of marine park will preserve and improve the quality of biodiversity in the area, especially the protected sea turtle," he said.
Moreover, the marine conservation area of West Pasaman covering 6,122 hectares of marine area is set to protect coral reef and sea turtle habitat.
Coral reef ecosystem in West Pasaman has covered an area of 79.74 hectares hence it should be protected to benefit the local fisheries and tourism industry, he added.
West Java has already had two marine conservation areas -- Penyu Pangumbahan Beach in Sukabumi District and Biawak Island in Indramayu District -- while West Sumatra has five marine conservation areas. They are Bunga Laut Strait in Mentawai Islands District, Pesisir Selatan District, Padang City, Pariaman City and Batang Gasan in Padang Pariaman District. (Antaranews)