RI-South Korea to work together in converting seaweed into energy

The Jakarta Post,  Jakarta  |  Sun, 03/08/2009 9:52 AM 

Indonesia and South Korea are set to cooperate on a biotechnology initiative involving the conversion of seaweed into environmentally friendly energy. 

"We wish to develop a type of biotechnology that utilizes seaweed for energy," Maritime and Fishery Ministry Secretary General Widi Agoes Pratikto told Antara on Sunday. 

He said Indonesia, as an archipelago, was blessed with immense natural maritime resources potentially convertable into renewable energy. 

"(South) Korea happens to have the technology to convert seaweed into energy, so we're exploring the option of cooperating with them," Pratikto said, adding that the initiative would be followed by other forms of cooperation such as in fish-product processings and fish cultivation. 

"What's important is a Memorandum of Understanding in place, as this facilitates future investments," he argued. 

Meanwhile, the President of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (Kitech) Kyoung-Hoan Na said Korea's decision to select Indonesia as a partner was due to certain factors. 

"Indonesia has the natural and human resources, while we bring the technology,"  he said. (amr)