VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

PT PLN has again gained achievements in the international arena by winning 3 ASEAN Coal Awards 2021 which was held in the Philippines. The award, which is held every two years, is a part of a campaign to use environmentally friendly coal technology. In the announcement of the ASEAN Center for Energy (ACE), through the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, PT PLN won awards for three categories. First, the first winner is in the power generation segment below 100 MW (megawatt) for the category of Best Practices in Clean Coal Use and Technology for Small Scale Power Generation. This award was won by the 2×25 MW Orchid Steam Power Plant (PLTU) under the Sulawesi Main Generation and Distribution Unit (UIKL), the Gorontalo Generator Controlling Executing Unit (UPDK). Then, the second award was won by PLTU Lontar 3×315 MW under the management of PLN's subsidiary, PT Indonesia Power, winning first place in the 100-500 MW power segment for the category of Best Practices in Clean Coal Use and Technology for Medium Scale Power Generation. Third, it’s in the large power segment of 500 MW and above, PLTU Central Java 2 Adipala Operation and Maintenance Services Unit (OMU) with a capacity of 1 × 660 MW. Under the management of Indonesia Power, this plant won the 1st Runner-Up position for the Best Practices in Clean Coal Use and Technology for Large Scale Power Generation category.

PT PLN's Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications and CSR, Agung Murdifi stated that this award is encouraging news, and gives encouragement to PT PLN which continues to be committed to providing environmentally friendly sustainable energy. This proves that PT PLN continues to work hard and smart in accordance with international standards. The award received by the PLN unit in Gorontalo refers to the Gorontalo PLTU with a capacity of 2 x 25 MW located in Ilangata Village, Anggrek District, North Gorontalo Regency, Gorontalo Province. The people of Gorontalo know it by the name of PLTU Anggrek. Done by the best young Indonesians from PT Rekadaya Elektrika, which is Engineering, Procurement and an electricity Construction (EPC) contractor company within the PLN Group. Its presence supports the electrification ratio in Gorontalo Province to reach 99.9 percent or higher than the national level of 98.93 percent when it was inaugurated. PLTU Lontar or PLTU Banten 3 Lontar is a power plant that has been operating since 2012 in Tangerang, Banten. This PLTU has experience in managing electricity with international standards, including receiving the ISRS (International Sustainability Rating System) certificate in early January 2019.  ISRS itself is the world's leading system for measuring and improving the quality of management systems in companies so that they can run sustainably, especially in the aspects of HSE (Health Safety Environment). Uniquely, the Lontar PLTU uses water hyacinth-based biomass and waste in its mix with coal, thus helping to answer environmental problems around its operating area. Furthermore, PLTU Central Java 2 Adipala OMU, is a power plant that uses a Supercritical Boiler with a steam pressure of 25.4 Megapascal. PLTU Jateng 2 has also been included in the co-firing program carried out by PLN in an effort to reduce carbon emissions and encourage the increase in new and renewable energy.

In the 2021 ASEAN Coal Awards, Indonesia participated by sending ten participants for the Best Practice categories (coal mining, clean coal use and technology for power generation, and coal distribution), Corporate Social Responsibility, and Special Submission. Overall, there are nine nominations from Indonesia who won this award. Director General of Mineral and Coal, Ridwan Djamaluddin expressed his appreciation for the victory in the 2021 Coal Awards and hoped that this award would be motivation to improve performance nationally, regionally and globally. The delivery of the 2021 ASEAN Coal Awards is planned to be held virtually in conjunction with the 39th meeting of the Energy Ministers of ASEAN countries on September 16th.

President Joko Widodo set the target for Indonesian economic growth around 5.0 upto 5.5 percent by 2022. The target was stated by the President in his annual address on the 2022 State Budget Draft and Financial Note during the House of Representatives' Plenary Session 2021-2022 at the parliament office in Jakarta, Monday (16/8).

President Joko Widodo affirmed that the economic growth target estimation considered the dynamics of Covid-19 pandemic development.

Some assumptions had been prepared by the government to achieve the target. The main one is preparing the 2,708.7 trillion rupiahs for the 2022 State Budget. It consists of 1,938.3 trillion rupiahs for the central government budget, 770 trillion rupiahs for regional transfer and village fund, 255.3 trillion rupiahs for health, 427.5 trillion rupiahs for social security, 541.7 trillion rupiahs for education. The government will also continue the infrastructure projects worth 384.8 trillion rupiahs for next year.

President Joko Widod hoped the state budget could support achieving the development target in 2022. The targets are open unemployment index around 5.5% - 6.3% and poverty index 8.5% - 9.0% that is focused on decreasing extreme poverty.

The government also set the target for state revenue upto 1,840.7 trillion rupiahs. It includes 1,506.9 trillion rupiahs tax revenue and 333.2 trillion rupiahs non-tax revenue. Meanwhile, the deficit was predicted to be around 4.85% from the Gross Domestic Product or around 868 trillion rupiahs.

Economy expert from the University of Indonesia, Teuku Riefky said that the economic growth target above five percent in 2022 is quite realistic if the Covid-19 pandemic would not have a new and worse variant next year. Therefore, Riefky recommended that the government must still focus on handling the Covid-19 pandemic.

Underprivileged and vulnerable people's purchasing power must also be maintained until the pandemic is handled. He added that the government will then focus on economic recovery to boost purchasing power, such as through stimulus to business sectors both in taxation and other forms.

The deadline for the withdrawal of US troops and their allies from Afghanistan is not yet over,  but the Taliban has been able to control the country. Taliban leaders and troops, managed easily to  enter Kabul and the Presidential Palace. President Ashraf Gani himself had left without  being known his whereabout.

After that, the Taliban immediately took over the government radio and television. Through the national media, the new head of TV and Radio, Maulvi Ishaq Nizami, stated that the Taliban government granted amnesty to all government officials and employees. According to him, they can carry out their duties without worry and fear.

Under the latest   conditions, many  non-Taliban Afghans must be gripped by fear and uncertainty. Thousands of them, especially those living in Kabul, ran to the airport and scrambled to board planes to leave the country. As reported by various mass media, they consist of young and old, even children, with frightened faces, worried about their fate and future.

In response to the end of the US and Western-backed Ashraf Gani administration, Russia and China have stated that they  would  continue to operate their embassies in Kabul. Meanwhile, Iran views that the existing momentum can be a driving force for the unity of all groups in Afghanistan. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stated this in a phone  call to his Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. On the other hand, from London it was reported, British Foreign Secretary Ben Wallace said that his government would not send troops back to Afghanistan. Wallace acknowledged that the Taliban had taken control of Afghanistan, and that this was recognized as a failure by the international community.

So, how about the United States? Joe Bidden insisted that his troop withdrawal was the right decision. Responding to criticism from Donald Trump, Bidden said he remained firm in his stance. However, regarding the latest developments, he had expressed his concerns. He promised to ensure that even under the rule of the Taliban, the rights of women and children would be protected. In its previous reign, before being overthrown by the US and its allies 20 years ago, the Taliban enforced Islamic law that was stricter than any other Islamic country around the world. They require women to wear full body coverings including the face (burqa), and are not allowed to appear and go out in public places, as well as limiting their education.

Of course, it is not only women who are worried, but also other Afghans. The reinstatement of the Taliban in Afghanistan, of course, immediately gave rise to new rulers who said they would implement their version of Islamic law. Very likely, there will be no more general elections. If this is the case, it is still uncertain how the reconciliation process between the various interests in the country will occur.

China and Russia and Iran, which have welcomed the presence of the Taliban, of course on the basis of their respective interests in Afghanistan, cannot yet be seen  as what their next steps will be. Afghanistan is known for its rich mineral resources. In addition, its geographical location is also very strategic and can connect China and Russia to Europe and the surrounding countries. This seems to have led the two countries, plus Afghanistan's other neighbour, Iran, to pay particular attention to the Taliban.

Today, August 17, the Indonesian people commemorate the 76th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia. Today's Commentary title is the anniversary theme for 2021.

In his state address at the Annual Session of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in Jakarta, Monday (16/8), President Joko Widodo linked the phrase 'Indonesia Resilient' with Indonesian nation to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. According to President Joko Widodo, this pandemic is like a candradimuka crater that tests, teaches, and sharpens at the same time. All pillars of life are tested; all pillars of strength are honed. Patience, persitence, togetherness, intelligence, and speed, all of these are tested and honed at the same time.

The pandemic mentioned by President Joko Widodo has also spurred people to change, develop new ways, leave old habits that are irrelevant, and break through the impossible. In fact, he believes, the capacity of state institutions in responding to the pandemic is also increasingly consolidated and more responsive.

The implementation of the phrase 'Indonesia Growing' can be seen from the economic growth in the second quarter of 2021, which reached 7.07% with a controlled inflation rate at 1.52%. Even during the period, restrictions on community activities were implemented in many places due to the spread of Covid-19 transmission. The government's optimism for Indonesia's growth can also be seen from the 2022 State Revenue and Expenditure Budget Bill which was submitted by the President on the same occasion. In 2022, the Government plans a fiscal policy that remains expansive to support the acceleration of socio-economic recovery, but is also consolidative to increase the state budget by strengthening structural reforms.

President Joko Widodo affirmed that there are six main focuses in the 2022 State Budget policy: first by continuing efforts to control Covid-19 while still prioritizing the health sector, second by maintaining the sustainability of social protection programs for the poor and vulnerable, third by strengthening the agenda for improving human resources with superior, integrity and competitiveness, fourth by continuing infrastructure development and improving technology adaptability, fifth by strengthening fiscal decentralization to increase and distribute welfare among regions and sixth by continuing budgeting reform in  implementing zero-based budgeting to encourage more efficient spending, strengthening central and regional synergies, focusing on priority and results-based programs, and anticipating conditions of uncertainty.

What was affirmed by President Joko Widodo in the two speeches may enliven optimism for a better Indonesia. To make it come true, discipline is needed so that the plan is carried out on time according to the target. Hopefully, all stakeholders can move at the same acceleration to realize “Indonesia Resilient, Indonesia Growing.”