MCL begins calling tenders for Cepu oil field project

Antara News, Sunday, May 30, 2010 18:12 WIB

Bojonegoro, E Java (ANTARA News) - Mobil Cepu Limted (MCL) has begun calling tenders for Full Field Development (FFD) projects of the Cepu oil/gas field in Bojonegoro, East Java, MCL spokesman said.

"The tender for several FFD projects is now in progress and in deciding the winners it would involve various parties," MCL external relations officer Deddy Afidick said here on Sunday.

Deddy did not disclose the schedule of the tender but a number of Cepu oil and gas projects, which were also called FFD, were facilities designed to put the oil block in full production.

Based on the production scenario, the Cepu peak production would be achieved in 2013. "We hope this tender would proceed smoothly," Afidick said.

The FFD included the central processing facilities (CPF) and other well facilities in the Cepu Block area, he said.

Besides, there would also be a 72-km long onshore oil pipeline network from the Banyu Urip, Cepu Block in Ngasem sub-district, to the sea in Tuban. From the coastal lines to the sea there would also be a 23-km long undersea pipeline network.

A floating storage would be built on-shore which will function to contain oil before it is loaded onto tanker ships.

Supporting projects which are not less important in the Cepu Block included civil works and other supporting infrastructures called engineering procurement and construction (FPC), he said.

Govt allocates rp273 b for Lapindo tourist site

Antara News, Saturday, May 29, 2010 02:26 WIB

Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA News) - The government has set aside Rp273 billion in funds to develop a geological tourist object near the Lapindo mudflow site in Sidoarjo district, East Java, an official said.

"The government through the maritime affairs and fisheries ministry has set aside Rp273 billion in funds to develop Lapindo geological tourist site," East Java Governor Soekarwo said here on Friday.

The 83-hectare geological tourist object would be located north of the mudflow site, he said adding: "President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited the location some time ago."

"The DED (detailed engineering design) of the project will be available in 2011. The project is likely to be started this year," he said.

Asked to comment on the land subsidence around the mudflow site, he said there was nothing to worry about it.

"The land subsidence can be handled if new embankments are not built. The emergence of new mudflow spots and land subsidence results from the construction of new embankments which add to another burden," he said quoting geologists of the Surabaya-based Sepuluh November Institute of Technology (ITS) and Airlangga University (Unair).

To date, there were 180 thousand mudflow spots, including 30 thousand to 50 thousand new ones, he said.

The mudflow first began from a crack near an exploratory gas well owned by PT Lapindo Brantas on May 29, 2006. It soon expanded into a mud lake, swallowing houses, factories and schools, leaving more than 15,000 people homeless.

Related Article:

Indonesia mud volcano still spewing sludge four years later

Ireland Eyes Investment in Indonesian Telecoms

Jakarta Globe, Arti Ekawati, May 28, 2010

Irish investors are targeting Indonesia’s communications and banking technology sectors to capitalize on the country’s rising population and robust economic growth.

Patrick O’Riordan, director of Enterprise Ireland for Indonesia, a trade and technology board, said private business in Indonesia was growing rapidly.

“This will demand an easy and safe banking system and telecommunication access in wide areas,” O’Riordan said on Thursday in Jakarta.

To satisfy this demand, investors from Ireland are expected to enter the banking technology sector and share their expertise, including establishing e-learning for Shariah finance and providing more affordable communication in remote areas.

Irish companies Tango Telecom, Altobridge and Openet are set to start business in Indonesia and cooperate with local mobile-phone operators.

O’Riordan said the telecommunication sector had much potential given the rising population and global free trade.

Since the implementation of the China-Asean Free Trade Agreement in January, Indonesia’s import value on telephones has been increasing. Based on Trade Ministry data, the import value on telephone goods from China in January was $138 million, about a 349 percent increase year-on-year.

“Therefore, finding qualified local partner is very important because of Indonesia’s very complex and huge market in telecommunications,” O’Riordan said.

Mark O’Sullivan, sales director for Altobridge for the Asia-Pacific region, said the company had met with several local mobile-network operators to discuss providing services in remote areas.

Many of Indonesia’s 240 million people live in rural areas spread across the country’s 17,000 islands, which are often underserved by communications networks.

“These are potential customers who can be served by local mobile operators by using Altobridge’s Remote Community solution, since we have satellite technology to provide services for people living in remote areas without any basic communication services,” O’Sullivan said.

To run its business in Indonesia, Altobridge would cooperate with more than one operator, as each operator has its own specific customers. O’Sullivan did not elaborate on how much the company planned to invest in Indonesia.

“We are in the process of looking for local-operator partners,” he said.

Richard O’Brien, Ireland’s ambassador to Singapore, said the Indonesian government needed to minimize obstacles for business development to boost foreign investment.

“Investors need transparency and predictability on tax payment. An attractive and predictable tax regime is urged so that people will know what they have to pay,” O’Brien said.

He added that the government should simplify investment procedures by implementing a one-stop service for investment and business licenses.

Based on Enterprise Ireland’s data, the trade balance between Indonesia and Ireland in 2009 was valued at 1.2 billion euros ($1.49 billion). This consisted of 650 million euros of Indonesian exports and 550 million euros of Indonesia’s imports from Ireland.

Lion and Wings need 120 pilots annually

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 05/28/2010 4:42 PM

Privately run airline companies, Lion Air and Wings Air, need 120 additional pilots annually, an executive of the companies said Friday.

Redi Irawan, operation director of Wing Air, said that the need would be adjusted to the airplane procurement plan by the two companies, which belonged to Rusdi Kirana, over the next several years.

The two companies have thus far employed 550 pilots, including 25 foreign pilots, he said.

Redi explained that in the period between November 2009 and April 2010 his company got delivery of five new airplanes out of the 30 ATR 72-500 airplanes his company ordered until 2013.

Wings, he said, operated 12 airplanes at the moment, consisting of five ATR 72-500, five MD-82 and two Dash 8, while Lion operated 50 airplanes, comprising 34 Boeing 737-900ER, nine 737-400, two 737-300, two 747 series 2, and three MD-90. Until 2015, Lion will add 178 other Boeing 737-900ER.

By the year 2014 Lion and Wings have targeted to own 1,000 pilots to operate all their airplanes.

“As a number of institutions in Indonesia have not been able meet demand of 400 to 500 pilots per annum, we run our own school to help meet pilot demand for Lion and Wings. The rest will be taken from graduates of Curug pilot training school,” Redi said as quoted by kompas.com news portal.

Indonesia to Get Rp4 Trillion in Education Grants from EU

Jakarta Globe, May 27, 2010

4 trillion rupiah has been allocated by the EU to develop Indonesia's education sector. (Photo Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg)

Yogyakarta. Indonesia will receive Rp 4 trillion in grants from the European Union (EU) and Australia to develop its education sector, a minister said.

“The grants will consist of 200 million euros from the European Union and Aus$200 million from Australia,” State Minister for National Development Planning Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana said following a bilateral meeting with the EU Commission for Development here on Wednesday.

The grants would be channeled for four years starting 2010, he said. Armida said the EU had agreed to channel the grants as budget support, “so the grants are not a project for the elementary education sector but will be taken to the state budget.”

In 2010 alone, EU will channel 45 million euros of the grants, he said.

“The rest will be channeled in stages,” he said. Director of Multilateral Overseas Funding at the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Dewo BJ Putranto said it was entirely up to Indonesia to decide what activities are to be funded by the EU grants.

“In the first year the grants will be used to support the education sector to achieve the goals of the Ministry of National Education’s strategic plans,” he said.

Antara

RI committed to rainforests protection despite financial constraints

Aditya Suharmoko, The Jakarta Post, Oslo | Thu, 05/27/2010 4:06 PM

Climate talks: Indonesian President Susilo Yudhoyono (left) and Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg speak at press conference during the Oslo Climate and Forest Conference in Oslo, Norway, Thursday. The conference was attended by 50 heads of state and environment ministers. –AP/Hakon Mosvold Larsen

Cash-strapped Indonesia remains committed to protection of its rainforests as part of the global initiative to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) Plus scheme, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says.

"Working with our developed country partners, we will protect Indonesia’s globally significant carbon- and biodiversity-rich tropical rainforests while helping local populations become more prosperous," Yudhoyono said Thursday in a speech during the opening session of the Oslo Climate and Forest Conference at Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica in the surrounding hills of Oslo.

The President's statement affirmed his pledge on Wednesday night that Indonesia "would conduct a moratorium for two years where we stop the conversion of peat land and of forests" during a historical agreement signing with Norway, which provides a US$1 billion grant for Indonesia in phases to protect the Southeast Asian nation's forests.

Yudhoyono also said Indonesia would preserve its forests "with or without international help".

But having financial limitations, Yudhoyono expected the REDD Plus scheme to be pushed forward.

"Cancun (meeting in Mexico) must produce a robust and workable decision. In this regard, a decision on REDD Plus could bring about the immediate action that we need to take," he said in the speech.

Indonesia still has a 14.15 percent poverty rate of about 230 million people in population, based on latest data released by the Central Statistics Agency.

In Indonesia, forest areas of a size equaling 300 soccer fields vanish every hour, according to Greenpeace.

Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said based on a March's international conference in Paris about 54 countries agreed to provide $4 billion in commitment to take necessary actions to protect the world's largest rainforests located in Brazil and Indonesia, which function as global "lungs" to transform carbon dioxide into oxygen.

"In today's market forests are more worth dead than alive. We want to change that ... There will be more (incentives) in leaving (them) than cut," he said.

He added that all developing countries should be in the driver's seat to reach the global goals with the help of multilateral institutions like the United Nations and the World Bank.

In his speech at the same forum, Britain’s Prince Charles said the time available to turn the words into actions was "running out". He also praised the agreement signed by Indonesia and Norway.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon said he would look forward to a successful outcome in the next meeting in Cancun.

Related Articles:

Govt to involve local communities in Redd+ program

New agency to curb deforestation ready by December

Indonesia sends team to Brazil for Redd+ program

Saving forests to maintain biodiversity

Indonesia, Norway to Sign $1b Forestry Deal

Indonesia Agrees to 2-Year Freeze on Forest Concessions in $1b Deal

President: Indonesia serious about managing its forests

RI made enormous progress upon achieving MDGs, UN official

Antara News, Thursday, May 27, 2010 19:47 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communication and information, Kiyotaka Akasaka, said Indonesia had made an enormous progress at home upon achieving the MDGs target.

"I see that Indonesia has made progress in reducing poverty, upgrade the education sector and women role in the society as well as increasing the rate of child mortality," Akasaka said here on Thursday morning during a press conference after giving a public lecture themed "The UN, MDGs and the Role of Young People in Furthering the Global Agenda" at Atmajaya University Jakarta.

However, he said, further effort was still needed to boost the handling of several sectors namely maternal mortality, eradication of HIV/AIDS, improvement of environmental sustainability an unemployment.

"Indonesia still have five more years to go. I believe this country will be able to achieve the MDGs target and the UN is willing to assist it," he said adding that Indonesia was among countries in the world which support the UN`s program.

At noon, Akasaka is scheduled to meet with Directorate General for Multilateral Economy, Finance and Development from Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Rezlan Izhar Janie, and other high officials from the ministry. They will be discussing about further cooperation in area of public information.

"Indonesian government has already support UN`s program during the past years. We are hoping that the support will continue in th future," said Akasaka.

In the afternoon he will visit the Peacekeeping Training Facility in Cilangkap to participate in a ceremonial event to pay tribute to Indonesia`s contributions to UN Peacekeeping in anticipation of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers (May 29).

New agency to curb deforestation ready by December

Aditya Suharmoko, The Jakarta Post, Oslo | Thu, 05/27/2010 2:21 PM

Kuntoro Mangkusubroto

Indonesia will immediately set up an agency similar to the now-defunct Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR) as part of a bilateral agreement with Norway, which provides US$1 billion in grants to help Indonesia reduce deforestation.

"[The agency] should be established before December [this year]," former BRR head Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, now head of the Presidential Working Unit for Development Supervision and Control, said Wednesday evening in Oslo.

Earlier in the day, Indonesia and Norway signed a letter of intent (LOI) to reduce deforestation in Indonesia, where forest areas of a size equaling 300 soccer fields vanish every hour according to Greenpeace.

The LOI includes three major points: Capacity building in which Indonesia needs to set up an agency to monitor the reduction of deforestation; pilot projects in which Indonesia and Norway will choose which forests will receive first priority; and result assessment.

Norway will fully disburse the grant only if the result lives up to expectations. "We pay for the results, it is quite simple,” said Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg during the signing.

Kuntoro, the top candidate to lead the new agency, said a BRR-like agency could ensure such programs worked well. "Most important is that the [agency] head's ability to directly report to the President is equal to a minister's, to ensure any decision can be made at the highest level," he said.

The BRR, which oversaw funds to rehabilitate Nias and Aceh post-earthquake in 2004, is considered a solid performing agency in which corruption could be prevented.

"We heard [during the signing] a stressing on the monitoring system. What we need to underline is trust. The person who wants to help must be given the high trust that his aid is used as designated. Such a monitoring system has been introduced to our government system by using GIS-based mapping, in which all physical projects used a coordinate as a basis," explained Kuntoro.

The GIS stands for geographical information system, a system that captures, stores, analyzes, manages and presents data that is linked to locations. It is used in cartography, remote sensing, land surveying, photogrammetry, geography, urban planning, emergency management, navigation and localized search engines.

Kuntoro said the BRR followed the GIS system, which had been adopted by the government since 2004.

He added that Indonesia would learn from Brazil in implementing the system in supervising carbon emissions. Brazil has also received a grant from Norway to reduce emissions.

Kuntoro was confident Indonesia could establish the agency within six months. "I think we need to issue regulations and fund management," he said.

Indonesia sends team to Brazil for Redd+ program

Antara News, Thursday, May 27, 2010 03:57 WIB

Oslo (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government has sent a team to Brazil to see from close quarters the implementation of the forest conservation cooperation program by way of the REDD+ mechanism there.

The statement was made by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Norwegian Government Guest House in Oslo on Wednesday afternoon local time after witnessing the signing of Letter of Intent (LoI) on reducing emissions caused by deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) between Indonesia and Norway worth 1 billion US dollars.

"Indonesia will send a team to Brazil as a comparison in the implementation of the program (REDD+) in Brazil," the President said.

Indonesia, he added, will especially focus on the mechanism of control and measuring the effectiveness of the program, so that Norway will act the same in implementing the program both with Indonesia or Brazil.

The Indonesian and Norwegian governments signed a deal worth one billion US dollars for cooperation in reducing emissions caused by reforestation and forest degradation.

Signing for Indonesia was Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and Norwegian Environment and International Development Minister Erik Solheim who acted for his government in the presence of President Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.

Jens Stoltenberg said under the agreement Norway is committed to support Indonesia`s efforts in preserving its forests at a cost of one billion dollars provided in three stages.

"The contribution will be based on reducing forest felling. Therefore, monitoring and verification are a key to make sure that progress is being made in reducing forest felling," he said when underlining the importance of control.

President Yudhoyono was among others in the company of Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa, Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta, Minister of Forestry Zulkifli Hassan, Sports and Youth Minister Andi Mallarangeng, and Presidential spokesmen Dino Patti Djalal and Julian A. Pasha.

After the bilateral meeting, Stoltenberg will entertain the President and his wife Madame Ani Yudhoyono and entourage at a dinner.

Boediono Confirms Indonesia on Track for 12-Year Education by 2014

Jakarta Globe, Camelia Pasandaran & Made Arya Kencana, May 26, 2010

Vice President Boediono, in white, announced a new education plan at a Denpasar high school. The plan is hoped to prevent students from dropping out after graduating junior high school. (JG Photo/JP Christo)

Denpasar. The government is on track to introduce compulsory 12-year basic education for all Indonesian children by 2014, officials said on Wednesday, with pilot programs expected to begin this year in selected provinces.

Vice President Boediono discussed the ambitious plan during a visit to SMA 1 high school in Denpasar. “We’re committed to rolling out this program in stages, as part of our effort to boost the country’s academic standing,” he told students at the school, which notched the highest average scores in this year’s national exams.

National Education Minister Muhammad Nuh, who accompanied the vice president, said the program could not be implemented immediately because of the relatively high number of students dropping out after junior high school to enter the work force.

“While the 12-year plan would see all children graduate from senior high school, we also have a 17-year plan in mind that would ensure all young people get a college degree,” he said.

He said about 30 percent of students nationwide left school after junior high, although in Bali the rate was 10 percent. The 12-year program is set to be an extension of the current nine-year mandatory basic education program, under which all children are expected to complete junior high school.

Under the existing and proposed programs, tuition is free at state schools, although in practice most schools require parents to contribute to an annual “maintenance fund.”

“We plan to implement the 12-year program nationwide by 2014, but several provinces such as Bali, Jakarta and East Kalimantan will have pilot projects before then,” Nuh said.

Education officials in Bali, the province boasting the highest national exam pass rate, were more cautious about the ambitious deadline to get pilot programs in place by the start of the 2011 school year.

“It’s going to be a challenge to implement the 12-year mandatory basic education program,” provincial education head I Wayan Suasta said.

During Boediono’s visit to the school, the Bali education office received a Rp 3.2 billion ($342,400) fund from the ministries of education and religious affairs to help disadvantaged junior high school graduates continue their studies and to promote Hinduism and Buddhism lessons. Eligible students include the handicapped, religious school graduates and those from low-income families.

“This fund is part of our commitment to maintaining the education sector as the country’s top priority,” Boediono said.

Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika said his administration was committed to allocating 20 percent of the provincial budget toward education. He said its 2010 education budget was Rp 369 billion, up from Rp 320 billion the previous year.

He also pledged to maintain the Education Operational Aid (BOP) scheme, under which the province subsidizes low-income junior high school students’ additional fees by Rp 800,000 a month, and Rp 1,000,000 for low-income vocational school students.

“In the future, all students should have at least a senior high diploma,” Pastika said.

RI, Norway agree to reduce deforestation

Aditya Suharmoko, The Jakarta Post, Oslo, Norway | Wed, 05/26/2010 9:57 PM

Indonesia and Norway signed a letter of intent to reduce deforestation and degradation in Oslo on Wednesday, in which Norway will provide up to US$1 billion in grant for Indonesia to protect its forests.

The letter was signed by Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa and Norway Minister of Environmental and International Development Erik Solheim at the guest house of Norway Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.

Stoltenberg said Indonesia would establish a unit in charge to ensure the grant used appropriately. "Monitoring the implementation is the key to be able to verify whether the grant is making progress and really reducing deforestation," he said.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesia still faced many challenges and problems in terms of funds to reduce deforestation.

"We have to reduce poverty and increase the people's living conditions, but we also have to protect our environment in facing climate change and global warming. These are twin aims, although we know we have to deal with this with or without international help," he said.

Related Article:

Indonesia Agrees to 2-Year Freeze on Forest Concessions in $1b Deal

President: Indonesia serious about managing its forests

Program raises Papuan women’s stature

Markus Makur, The Jakarta Post, Paniai, Papua | Wed, 05/26/2010 10:31 AM | The Archipelago

The move to involve women in community development has gained momentum in Painai regency, Papua, with a training program specifically targeting women.

The Raising Her Voice program is run by the People’s Welfare Development Foundation (Yapkema) in Paniai with Oxfam GB Papua.

It trains 30 women from Mee and Moni tribes from the regency’s three districts — Obano, Enarotali and Bibida — to encourage them to take part in development programs.

One of the women, Emiliana Songgonao, said the program focused on governance and sharing responsibilities between men and women within families, communities and the regency administration.

She said the program helped raise awareness among women in the past year, such as on their rights

to healthcare and education and allowed them to take part in development.

“I understand my rights through the training and I can voice my concern to the Paniai government,” she told The Jakarta Post in Bibida district.

The administration has also backed the program through the recent signing of an MoU with Oxfam and Yapkema on the empowerment of people’s welfare, gender equality in the implementation of public policies, and the improvement of human resources.

However, despite the signing of the MoU at the regency level, the agreed points have not been implemented by officials.

Local health agency secretary Usman Busa said his agency had worked with NGOs, including Oxfam and Yapkema, to improve health services.

In Paniai, he said, his office trained villagers to become volunteers at integrated health centers. The agency runs 136 centers in 10 districts and 70 hamlets across the regency.

The administration, Usman added, also aimed to empower people and improve access to healthcare by setting up community health centers and by assigning midwives to hamlets.

He acknowledged that many of the midwives did not stay long, leaving 80 percent of the posts vacant.

“The problem lies in the high costs, which differ from hamlet to hamlet. Transportation is only possible by renting a plane or helicopter so it’s hard to serve remote villages,” Usman said.

The head of Obano hamlet in Obano district, Hendrik Keya, said poor health services were an issue in the district, with many children suffering from malnutrition and many people dying of diarrhea.

Women in the district, he said, helped deal with the problem by getting actively involved in improving health services, including promoting better nutrition for children and pregnant women, due to a lack of doctors and medical workers.

Raising Her Voice program coordinator from Yapkema in Paniai, Nathan Pigome, told the Post that the program worked by making women aware of their rights in the government and of their equal rights with men in development programs.

The program also empowers people economically. Most area residents earn their living from agriculture.

He said the activities in the three districts were Oxfam and Yapkema’s pilot projects.

“The voices of women from Paniai’s farming communities are heard by the Paniai regency administration. These women also take part in development planning meetings at the village level and higher,” he said.

US secretary sees clean energy tie-ups in Indonesia

Google/AFP

JAKARTA — Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said on Tuesday the United States was keen to develop clean-energy partnerships with Indonesia, a leading energy producer, ahead of a visit by President Barack Obama.

With executives from 10 energy companies in tow, Locke held group meetings on clean energy with officials and business leaders in Jakarta, as well as talks with the government, said the US embassy.

Obama is expected to sign a "strategic partnership" with Indonesia when he visits in June, although the details have not been made known.

"The companies on this trade mission are at the vanguard of a movement to meet the world?s clean energy needs," Locke said in a statement.

"As they expand their presence in fast-growing countries like Indonesia they can help solve unprecedented energy and environmental challenges, while creating good-paying jobs for the people of America and Indonesia.

"That?s a win for everyone involved."

Companies represented in the delegation included General Electric, Lockheed Martin Global, Oshkosh Corporation, Peabody Energy and Pratt and Whitney Power Systems.

Indonesia is a top coal exporter, is the world's fourth most populous country with about 240 million people, and has the largest Muslim population, making it a strategic economic and diplomatic partner of the United States in Southeast Asia.

In addition to exporting "dirty" fuels like coal and gas, it is the top exporter of palm oil used in biofuels and is estimated to possess around 40 percent of the world's geothermal energy potential, or around 28,000 megawatts.

"Our meetings with Indonesian officials were productive, providing first-hand knowledge of clean tech opportunities and Indonesia?s business environment," Locke said.

"US companies on our trade mission look forward to pursuing new business opportunities in Indonesia that will benefit the economies of both our countries while creating a more sustainable environment."

Scientists blame the rapid expansion of palm oil plantations for the destruction of swathes of pristine rainforest, a process that emits vast amounts of greenhouse gas and destroys the habitats of endangered species like orangutans.

Related Article:

US firms seek opportunities in renewable energy

Saving forests to maintain biodiversity

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 05/25/2010 10:03 AM

Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said his office would restore 300,000 hectares of damaged forest per year to maintain biodiversity, which has come under serious threat from deforestation and development.

Minister Zulkifli has issued permits to restore 200,000 hectares of damaged forest in Sumatra and East Kalimantan this year.

“We will also focus on enforcing the law on the illegal trade of species or illicit forest conversion in protected and conservation areas,” he told reporters at celebrations of the International Year of Biodiversity in Jakarta on Monday.

“We hope the huge restoration program can revitalize the previous function of the forest and preserve its biodiversity,” he said.

He said the ministry would prioritize increasing the population of endangered species over the next four years.

“We admit the threats of biodiversity loss are still very high due to among others, economic development, deforestation and forest degradation,” he said.

He said the restoration in Sumatra could protect falling numbers of Sumatran tigers, elephants, orangutans and rhinoceroses.

The three-day celebration of the International Biodiversity Year was jointly organized by the Forestry Ministry and a German-based organization, GTZ.

The minister also launched a national action plan for protected areas, which will be used as a basis for conservation management to promote sustainable development in the country.

The document was drafted by the government and a group of NGOs including WWF Indonesia, Burung Indonesia, Flora Fauna Indonesia, the Nature Conservancy and Conservation International.

The action plan is also aimed at meeting the government’s commitment under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to allocate protected areas both in terrestrial and maritime areas.

The government plans to establish some 10 million hectares of protected marine area in 2010 and 20 million hectares in 2020.

The action plan highlights that Indonesia has 500 protected areas with a total 36 million hectares,

in both terrestrial and marine areas.

The document outlines actions needed to protect biodiversity, including monitoring systems, capacity building and the management of conservation areas.

Indonesia has 12 percent (515 species) of the world’s mammals, the second-highest level after Brazil, and 17 percent (1,531 species) of the total species of birds, the fifth-highest number in the world.

The country is also home to 15 percent (270 species) of amphibians and reptiles, 31,746 species of vascular plants and 37 percent of the world’s species of fish.

The director general of forest protection and nature conservation Darori, said the financial value of biodiversity could be higher than the price of wood products.

He said the government would promote breeding systems to increase populations of species that could be traded under international agreements.

“A number of countries such as China and Taiwan plan to import up to 1 million geckos per year, but we can only provide 100,000. So the demand is still high,” he said.

A scientist at the Nature Conservancy, Wahjudi Wardoyo, said the government needed to apply “development by design” to protect biodiversity.

“Economic development should continue but it must be designed with biodiversity in mind,” said Wahjudi, a former director general of forest protection and nature conservation.

EU to fund Indonesia's education program

English.news.cn, 2010-05-25 14:11:10

JAKARTA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Tuesday signed an agreement in which it provided grant worth 2.4 trillion rupiah (about 258.3 million U.S. dollars) to Indonesia for the new "Education Sector Support Program", to support the country's effort towards achieving the education-related Millennium Development Goals and providing nine years of quality basic education to all children by 2015.

Minister of National Education Muhammad Nuh in his remarks said that the government saw the provision of qualified education to all children as one of key priorities.

"Therefore, we welcome the new EU grant," said Nuh.

The Education Sector Support Program will be jointly supported by the EU and AusAID from Australia, whose contribution is expected to be announced later this year.

The EU grant contribution will be channeled as sector budget support and as such will directly support key policies and strategies in the new education of 2010-2014 to improve nation- wide access, quality and governance in basic education services.

As part of the EU-funded 258.3 million dollars contribution to the Education Sector Support Program, the EU will provide 240 million rupiah (about 25,931 dollars) over five years to support the government with technical expertise and access to international knowledge and best practices, in order to implement necessary reforms to achieve its education objectives.

The technical cooperation component will be managed by the Asian development Bank (ADB).

The signing ceremony took place in the two-day "Indonesia Education Partnership Forum" organized jointly by the Ministry of Education and the EU.

The forum gathered ten development partners of the EU to share and discuss with Indonesian government representatives and education stakeholders the lessons learned from their support to basic education.

Accor to open 16 new hotels in Indonesia by 2012

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 05/25/2010 10:41 AM | Business

International hotel operator Accor plans to open 16 new hotels across Indonesia by 2012 to support its expansion plan in the country’s growing hotel industry, says an executive of the hotel chain.

Accor chairman and CEO for the Asia Pacific, Michael Issenberg, said in Jakarta on Monday that one of the hotels would start operation in Bali by the end of this year, while another 15 would be launched between 2011 and 2012 in Jakarta, Banten, Central Java, East Java, Bali, East Kalimantan, Bangka Belitung, West Sumatra and North Sulawesi.

Issenberg said that Accor, which currently operates 39 hotels in Indonesia, focused its operations

in Indonesia on medium and economy classes, to ensure sustained network expansion in line with the growth in domestic and intra Asian travel.

As demand grows, he said, the market prospects for price sensitive segments would strengthen.

“With the opening of 16 new hotels, Indonesia will be at the forefront of the brands’ expansion in Asia,” said Accor’s vice president for Indonesia, Gerrard Guilloet.

Currently, Accor operates in Indonesia under several brands including Mercure, All Seasons, Ibis, Novotel and Formula 1. Pullman will make a debut this year.

The new hotels will include an All Seasons Hotel Bangka, Ibis Balikpapan, All Seasons Denpasar, Ibis Bali Kuta, All Seasons Gajah Mada (Jakarta), Ibis Manado, Mercure Padang, Ibis Surabaya Basuki Rahmat, Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana, Novotel Bangka, Mercure Simatupang (Jakarta), Mercure Bali Kuta Haverstland, Mercure Solo, Mercure Banjarmasin and All Seasons Yogyakarta.

Accor has been in Indonesia since 1993 when it developed a network across 17 cities throughout the county that employs more than 7,000 employees.

According to Issenberg, Indonesia contributes 10 percent of Accor’s network in the Asia Pacific region.

China is Accor’s top market with 93 hotels, followed by Thailand with 43 hotels.

Accor operates 4,100 hotels and nearly 500,000 rooms in 90 countries. (not)

Yahoo Buys Indonesian Mobile Internet Company

Yahoo has bought Koprol.com, an Indonesian mobile location-based-services Web company similar to Foursquare in the U.S.

CIO.com, by Dan Nystedt on Tue, May 25, 2010

IDG News Service — Yahoo has bought Koprol.com, an Indonesian mobile location-based-services Web company similar to Foursquare in the U.S.

The purchase gives Yahoo an expert in location-based mobile services, including helping people find nearby local businesses complete with reviews, on their mobile phones, as well as seeing where friends are and what they're doing, and more. Prior to Tuesday's announcement, Yahoo had reportedly been seeking a deal for New York City-based Foursquare valued at over US$100 million.

Yahoo bought Koprol because people are increasingly using mobile devices to access the Internet, the company said in a statement. "This is especially true in many emerging markets where we are introducing the Yahoo brand to many new-to-Net users," said Rose Tsou, senior vice president of the Asia Region for Yahoo, in a statement. "Koprol was uniquely designed for mobile phones and within a year has already built a strong user base," she added.

Yahoo plans to introduce Koprol in new markets, but did not say when.

"For us, joining a company like Yahoo was an easy decision to make and will take Koprol to the next level. We are very excited," Koprol said on its blog, adding that Koprol is well suited for Indonesia and the emerging markets in general.

Police advise residents to be watchful of housemaids

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 05/24/2010 9:37 PM

City Police warn residents to keep an eye on newly recruited housemaids to avoid falling victim of crimes committed by alleged theft syndicates.

City Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Boy Rafli Amar said Monday hiring housemaids from licensed agencies or those recommended by their relatives are safer.

“It is also important for employers to make sure their maids have relatives or close acquaintance they can reach or contact anytime,” Boy said.

On Sunday, a resident of Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, lost Rp 30 million (US$3,300), a set of diamond earrings and two cellular phones from her home, all allegedly stolen by her maid, who had only been employed that day.

Indonesia, Norway to Sign $1b Forestry Deal

Jakarta Globe, Camelia Pasandaran& Fidelis E Satriastanti, May 24, 2010

Indonesia and Norway are expected to sign a $1 billion agreement on the forestry sector at a two-day meeting in Oslo this week, a senior Indonesian official said on Monday.

The Oslo Climate and Forest Conference, to be held on Wednesday and Thursday, is expected to be attended by at least 10 heads of states from countries with rain forests.

The conference aims to come up with a nonbinding framework on the UN-backed carbon trading mechanism known as REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). The framework will be called REDD-plus Partnerships.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will co-chair the Oslo meeting.

“The Oslo meeting is a very important step in realizing all the promises that have been made by [developed countries] and to sort out how the financing will be determined,” said Liana Bratasida, the environment minister’s assistant for global environmental affairs and international cooperation.

Liana said $3.5 billion in funding had been promised to rain- forest countries by Norway, Australia, France, Japan, the United States and the European Union.

She also said the REDD-plus Partnerships that were expected to be launched at the meeting in Oslo would represent a major breakthrough in climate change negotiations.

“If this can move forward then it might push other negotiations to move forward also,” Liana said of the new framework.

Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta said the Oslo meeting would benefit Indonesia because Norway’s promised funding would boost optimism that the country could reach its emission cuts targets.

Indonesia last year made a voluntary pledge to cut its emissions by 26 percent by 2020 and by up to 41 percent if assisted with international funding.

“If we get the funding from Norway, we will channel it for activities on peatland areas, considering that these areas have a bigger impact [in the release of more carbon dioxide],” Gusti said.

The discussions at the conference will include involving governors with peatland areas.

Meanwhile, Dino Patti Djalal, Yudhoyono’s spokesman for international affairs, said they expected pledges on the REDD-plus Partnerships would be increased to $5 billion.

“This funding mechanism, what we call interim REDD-plus Partnerships, will effectively and efficiently coordinate the implementation of the forest and climate change program,” the spokesman said.

Dino said the partnerships would be replaced if the climate change negotiations reached an official agreement on an international mechanism related to REDD-plus.

Yudhoyono will also meet the Norwegian prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg to discuss bilateral relations and sign a letter of intent concerning cooperation in forestry issues.

Dino declined to provide more details of the agreement.

Bali hotels association: "green" for everyone

Antara News, Tuesday, May 25, 2010 00:30 WIB

Denpasar (ANTARA News) - The Bali Hotels Association (BHA),a group of over 100 star-rated hotels in Bali held an environment workshop at Kuta`s Hard Rock Hotel, as a part of series to provide a new concept of green for everyone.

"The workshop contributes to BHA`s endeavors to furthermore educate and train its employees as part of its social responsibility to provide a better and cleaner future for all local communities", Gareth Warne, BHA Director of Environment, and GM of Nusa Lembongan Resort & Sail Sensations Catamaran, said in Denpasar, Monday.

The workshop covered an unusually wide range of green subjects from solar water heating to biofuel production, from kitchen oil to consultancy on sustainable development.

During eight lectures over 100 participants had been informed of practical hands on solutions on saving energy, water management, recycling, carbon offset, and green corporate social responsibility programs.

The available choice of green technologies and solutions such as LED lighting run on just 20 percent of conventional energy consumption.

Also, biodegradable plastic products dissolving into virtually nothing after about one year amazed experts and laymen alike.

Certificates of appreciation were given out to 30 BHA hotels participating in EcoBali`s and Tetra Pak`s `Environmental Awareness and Recycling of Beverage Cartons Program`.

The very successful initiative is a major promoter of environmental good practice and education within Bali`s hotel industry.

An MoU signed between BHA, Tetra Pack Indonesia, and EcoBali is cementing future cooperation in the recycling and green education sector.

Presentations were given by Contained Energy, Caritas Switzerland, Plant a Tree Today (PATT), Little Tree, Eco-Leadership, Gadjah Tunggal Plastindo (OXO12), Tetra Pack Indonesia, as well as EcoBali. The event itself was sponsored by Gadjah Tunggal Plastindo and Tetra Pack Indonesia.

Another BHA workshop on energy and waste management is planned for the end of 2010.

The Bali Hotels Association is a professional organization star-rated hotels and resorts in Bali. Members include general managers from 100 hotels and resorts, representing 14,500 hotel rooms and 22,000 employees in Bali.

President to attend climate change and forest conference in Oslo

Antara News, Monday, May 24, 2010 19:59 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to attend an international conference on climate change and forests in Oslo, Norway, on May 26-27, presidential spokesman Dino Pati Djalal said.

The president would leave for the conference upon an invitation from Norway`s Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg.

"During the conference attended by 40 delegates representing 50 countries, President Yudhoyono will act as co-chair accompanying Prime Minister Stoltenberg as the host of the conference," Dino said here on Monday adding that some country leaders already confirmed their attendance were from Denmark, Guyana and Gabon.

The spokesman said the conference would specifically discuss about the mechanism to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries or famously known as REDD+ program.

"The conference aims to facilitate a voluntarily partnership between advanced and developing countries owning tropical forest area to realize REDD program by providing a US$4-5 billion funding to support the activity," Dino said adding that the meeting was expected to issue a detailed agreement about the mechanism and implementation of REDD+ program.

The meeting in Oslo was a follow up to the previous meeting held in Paris last March, said Dino.

"Though included in the Copenhagen Accord last 2009, REDD+ program is not yet implemented. Therefore, the Oslo meeting is aimed to boost the process in UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)," he said adding that reducing deforestation was important because it contributes one fifth of total greenhouse emission in the world.

During the meeting, President Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Stoltenberg are also scheduled to sign a Letter of Intent (LOI) on forestry sector.

The president will leave for Oslo on Tuesday evening and return to Jakarta next May 28.