Govt highlights renewable energy master plan

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 07/13/2011

According to Indonesia’s economic acceleration and expansion master plan for 2011-2015, the country needs Rp 134.6 trillion (US$ 15.7 billion) in investment to develop renewable energy resources for the next 15 years, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry says.

The funds will be allocated to five regions; Sumatra (Rp 25.06 trillion), Java (Rp 86.3 trillion), Sulawesi (Rp 15.77 trillion), Bali-Nusa Tenggara (Rp 2.64 trillion) and Papua-Maluku (Rp 4.83 trillion).

Supplying the public with renewable energy is a government priority, Renewable Energy and Conservation Director-General Kardaya Warnika said Wednesday.

"The funds will be used to build both infrastructure and generators,” he said as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Kardaya added that the government was seeking to increase renewable energy utilization by the public, by endorsing innovations such as solar powered street lights.

The ministry also encourages shopping centers and city malls to produce their own electricity by installing solar panels on their roof tops.

“We are blessed with sunshine throughout the year, so we should use it.

"Even a subtropical country like China is doing so,” Kardaya said.

He also added that the government was promoting biofuel development using coconut husks and jatropha.