Indonesia may get U.S. help in going green

UPI.com, July 25, 2011 

DENPASAR, Indonesia, July 25 (UPI) -- Indonesia could get millions of dollars in financial aid during the next several years for a sustainable and green economy, the U.S. State Department said.

The U.S. Department of Energy in May examined the potential for investing in oil, natural gas and renewable energy in Indonesia. Both governments discussed the possibilities during talks in Bali between U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.

The State Department said Indonesia under a Millennium Challenge Corp. compact could get around $600 million during the next five years for investments in environmentally sustainable green prosperity.

Both sides said they were working on completing a second agreement on forest conservation before September. The State Department said it planned to contribute around $20 million toward that agreement.

"I think both Secretary Clinton and I feel ever more confident that the comprehensive partnership between our two countries are in a good state, and that we are actually further deepening and strengthening our collaboration and partnership," said Natalegawa.