Government Aims to Build 36 New Solar Power Plants in 2013

Jakarta Globe, SP/Ari Rikin,  April 25, 2013

A solar power plant from Star Energy in Wayang Windu, West Java.
(GA Photo/Defrizal)

               

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The government is planning to build 36 new solar power plants across Indonesia, especially in isolated and border areas, an official said on Thursday.

Alihudin Sitompul, the director of renewable energy and energy conservation at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, said that the government was targeting to increase the number of solar power plants to 153 this year, up from last year’s 117.

The development of solar power plants face tougher financial, technical and other constraints than other types of power sources, Alihudin said, but that the government was relying on partnerships to help manage the construction.

“So far, our policies regarding the development of solar power plants are already good. However, our partners should be able to decide whether the [solar plant projects] are feasible or not, so that they do not force themselves to do them,” he said.

Speaking on the sidelines of a workshop on renewable energy in Jakarta, Alihudin said that forcing unfeasible projects to realization often results in delays, improper installation, lower quality plants and higher prices.

He said that the central government and its provincial counterparts have earmarked Rp 1 trillion ($103 million) for solar power plant construction this year, an increase from last year’s budget of Rp 700 billion.

LEN, Pertamina to Develop Solar Panel Plant

Jakarta Globe, October 29, 2012

LEN Industri and Pertamina will join forces to build a solar cell production
plant. (AFP Photo)

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State-owned companies LEN Industri and Pertamina are collaborating together to build a solar cell production plant in Rancaekek, Bandung, according LEN Insdustri President Abraham Mose.

Abraham, speaking to Antara news agency on Monday, said that the groundbreaking for the plant's construction is expected to take place in December.

"This an asignment project and at the same time an investment, so that we do have a renewable energy inustry in Indonesia," Abraham said. He gave no further details on the plant, but that it could produce solar cells with a total capacity of 60 MWatts.

"This is a venture and an investment. [It will be done] so that we can have a renewable energy industry in Indonesia," Abraham said. He gave no further details about the plant, but mentioned that it could produce solar cells with a capacity of 60 megawatts.

A presidential regulation issued in 2006 states that solar energy should account for between 0.2 and 0.3 precent of national energy usage by 2025, or the equivalent of 1,000 megawatts per hour.

Abraham also noted that LEN was planning on investing in airport navigation equipment.

"We will make a proposal for the airport navigation project since it is in line with LEN's focus. We will do this in the next five years," he said.

Abraham mentioned that on Nov. 28 the company would introduce products made in conjunction with the Research and Technology Ministry.

 LEN Industri's expertise, according to to the company's president, lies in railway signage, marine navigation, renewable energy, military communication equipment and control systems.

Abraham noted that LEN has a strategic corporate division devoted to mapping industrial trends.

"Basically, we are always monitoring development and looking for opportunities for growth," he said.

Borobodur Temple to Get Solar-Powered Lighting

Jakarta Globe, October 15, 2012

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Greenpeace has started installing a solar-powered lighting system that will illuminate the ancient temple of Borobodur on the outskirts of Yogyakarta.

The lighting system is scheduled to start working on Oct. 28, the group said in a press release on Sunday.

The organization said that the project was part of a nationwide campaign, called the “Climate Rescue Station,” to promote awareness about renewable energy to people in Indonesia.

The project also aims to urge the government to implement a massive uptake of renewable energy sources and to decrease dependence on dirty fossil fuels like coal.

“Greenpeace intends to light up Borobodur to enlighten Indonesians about our vision of a clean and safer energy future. We want to remind Indonesians, particularly the government, that we can work together for a better future with renewable energy,” said Arif Fiyanto, climate and energy campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

He said the government must make the switch to renewable energy to protect communities from the health and environmental hazards of coal pollution.

“We are calling on all Indonesians to be part of the solution and join the movement for renewable energy by visiting the Climate Rescue Station at Borobodur, or by signing up at our website,” Arif added.

Borobudur, the world’s biggest Buddhist monument, was built in the ninth century and has been Indonesia’s leading tourist attraction.

“Today, it is a symbol for enlightenment not only for Indonesians but for people around the world,” the group said. “Greenpeace is providing solar-powered lighting around the temple complex to show that renewable energy is not only possible but a viable alternative to meet Indonesia’s energy needs.”

Marsis Sutopo, head of Borobudur Heritage Conservation, voiced his appreciation to Greenpeace’s initiative.

“Our hope is that people grow increasingly aware that solar power is needed as an energy source, thus reducing our dependence on energy from fossil fuels,” he said.

Many experts have agreed that Indonesia’s position on the equator allows it to use the sun’s abundant supply of heat as an energy source throughout the year. But it’s something the country has not taken advantage of.

According to Greenpeace, the country’s abundant geothermal potential accounts for roughly 40 percent of the world’s total resource.

Latest government data shows that renewable energy contributes to less than 5 percent to the country’s power-generating capacity, according to the group.

Greenpeace said it is calling on the government of Indonesia to fast-track the development of renewable energy in the country by setting ambitious and binding targets for renewable energy, guaranteeing priority access to the grid for renewable power generators, providing defined and stable returns for renewable energy investors, and phasing out all subsidies for fossil fuels.

The group would also like fossil fuel companies to shoulder the social and environmental burden caused by their facilities.

“Renewable energy is a key building block for a fair and equitable green economy,” Arif said. “We call on Indonesians to sign up and join our renewable-energy campaign and be part of the movement that will steer our country to a better future.”

PLN to Provide Solar Power to Indonesia's Remote Islands

Jakarta Globe, October 01, 2012

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State utility company Perusahaan Listrik Negara is close to completing the construction of 100 solar power plants on dozens of small and remote islands.

Vickner Sinaga, PLN operational director for eastern Indonesia, said the construction of the solar power plants, which will have a total capacity of 18,150 kilowatt peak (kWp), has been progressing smoothly. Kilowatt peak is a measure of power in solar energy devices.

The undertaking aims to provide electricity to remote populations.

“The progress [has gone] smoothly, and by the end of this year around 80 solar plants [will] have been constructed. The rest are expected [to be completed] next year,” Vickner said.

The project costs around Rp 600 billion ($63 million). According to PLN data, the solar plants currently being built are located in West Papua, North Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara, South and Southeast Sulawesi and South Kalimantan.

The government a few years ago instructed PLN to supply an additional 55,500 megawatts nationwide by 2019 and increase the electrification rate — the proportion of the population with access to the power grid — to 90 percent by 2020, from around 71 percent currently.

The first phase of the program has moved more slowly than planned, with the government admitting poor choices for contractors had delayed progress.

The government has initiated projects to add another 30,000 MW of power to the national grid by 2014 through a fast-track program using coal, geothermal and hydroelectric resources. The preferred source differs by region, Vickner said.

For remote islands, solar power plants are more economical, partly because consumption in such areas is low, he added.

“In Java, it is better to use diesel power plants when there is a lack of power. Solar power plants with 100 kWp would only last for five hours in Java,” Vickner said.

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Local, Chinese Firms Propose Solar Plant Costing $200m

Jakarta Globe, July 19, 2012

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Chinese state company Shanghai Aerospace Automobile Electromechanical and a local solar panel firm, Basel Investindo, have announced plans to build a 200 megawatt solar power plant, with a total investment of $200 million.

The president director of Basel Investindo, Edwin Henawan Soekowati, said Indonesia should be one of the countries with the most potential to utilize solar power, thanks to its tropical climate.

He said Indonesia should be serious in developing renewable energy such as solar power as its oil reserves dwindle.

“Indonesia is now a net importer of oil. Looking forward, fossil fuel is getting more expensive. Now the government is chasing coal, but that will also run out one day. That’s why solar panel technology must be developed,” Edwin said.

He said Basel and SAAE had signed a memorandum of understanding with the directorate general for renewable energy at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. The signing was done at a renewable energy exhibition in Jakarta.

“The Chinese state company has expertise in making solar panels ... this kind of technology suits the need of Indonesia’s rural areas, which have not yet been touched by electricity,” he said.

The $600 million plant will be built in Indonesia’s eastern region.

Edwin admitted that the cost of building a solar-powered plant was more expensive than a coal-fired power plant. He said it would cost $3 million per megawatt of electricity capacity generated from solar panels, while using coal only costs $1.5 million per megawatt.

However, he argued that solar panels were cheaper to maintain.

Apart from Basel, Sharp, Samsung and Infinity are also developing solar panel technology in Indonesia.

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Three state firms to invest $30 mln in solar cells

Antara News, Fri, April 20 2012

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Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Three state firms will cooperate in producing solar cells at a total cost of US$30 million, an official said.

"In the first phase, the solar cells which will be produced in the first semester of 2012 may have a capacity of 30 megawatts," the deputy for infrastructures and logistics to the state enterprises minister, Sumaryanto Widayatin, said here Thursday.

The three state firms are electricity company PT PLN, construction company PT Wijaya Karya Tbk, and highway operator PT Jasa Marga Tbk.

Sumaryanto said the cooperation is part of synergy to deal with rising demand for electrical power.

"In the first phase, Jasa Marga will serve as off taker (direct user) of the solar cell production," he said.

In addition, the solar cells will also help PLN meet electrical power needs in remote areas, outlying islands and hinterlands, he said.

The study on the development of solar cells has reached the final stage, he said adding the three state firms will soon set up a kind of subsidiary to carry out the project.

He said Indonesia has large potentials to develop solar cells.

"We have quartz sand deposits of up to 75 billion tons as raw material to make solar cell crystal or silicon," he said. 

Editor: B Kunto Wibisono

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PLN operates biggest solar power plant in Morotai

Antara News, Sun, April 15 2012

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - State electricity company PT PLN is operating the biggest solar power plant (PLTS) with a capacity of 600 kW in the outermost island of Morotai in North Maluku.

The company`s director for Indonesian eastern region operations, Vickner Sinaga, said in a press statement received here on Sunday the operation of the PLTS would reduce oil consumption by an average of 800 liters daily or save about Rp2.5 billion a year.

"The PLTS began operating yesterday or Saturday," he said.

He said PLN would continue improving its service across Indonesia by prioritizing the use of alternative energy sources especially for the Indonesian eastern regions.

He said the operation of the PLTS will also help support the implementation of the Sail Morotai 2012 which is to be held from May to June.

Recently PT PLN operated a 350kW solar power plant at the peak period in the Sebatik island in East Kalimantan bordering Malaysia and another 100kW on Miangas island in North Sulawesi close to the Philippines.

The operation of the PLTS is part of the company's plan to distribute electricity to 100 outermost islands using 100 percent solar power with the target of achieving it by October 28, 2012.

PLN also expects 1,000 islands across Indonesia will have used solar energy as the source of their power plants by 2014 at the latest.

Editor: Ade Marboen

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Indonesia to soon develop renewable energy

Antara News, Fri, April 6 2012 

 "Indonesia has oil reserves of about 4 billion barrels, and it is estimated this will run out within the next 11 years. Therefore, we need to develop renewable energy as soon as possible."

Kardaya Warnika.
(FOTO ANTARA)

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will soon develop renewable energy to replace the country`s diminishing oil reserves, according to Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Kardaya Warnika.

"Indonesia has oil reserves of about 4 billion barrels, and it is estimated this will run out within the next 11 years. Therefore, we need to develop renewable energy as soon as possible," Kardaya recently said on the sidelines of a seminar entitled `The Development of New Renewable Energy to Save Fossil Fuel for the Sake of National Resilience`.

Officials note that renewable energy could become a solution for dealing with the energy crisis and maintaining energy resilience.

Currently, the nation receives up to 95 percent of its energy supply from fossil energy, such as oil, natural gas and coal.

The attraction of renewable energy includes its being environmentally friendly, endless and available domestically.

"Investment in oil and gas would require billions of US dollars, while renewable energy needs only billions of rupiahs," he noted.

The government hopes that the development of renewable energy will reach 25 percent of the nation`s needs by 2025. However, subsidies are a factor hampering the development of renewable energy, he added.

The ministry is currently developing 100 megawatts of solar power energy (PLTS) and 50 megawatts of windmill power energy.

A location for the development of PLTS is being looked for, while a windmill power energy plant will be built in Yogyakarta.

Editor: Ella Syafputri

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Govt to build solar cell company in West Java

Antara News, Mon, March 19 2012 

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Ministry of State Owned Enterprises plans to build a solar cell company in Karawang, West Java, in response to the growing suggestions that Indonesia should use more renewable energy and reduce its dependency on fossil fuel, a minister said.

Dahlan Iskan. (ANTARA
/Rosa Panggabean) 

"The company will produce a capacity of 60 megawatts per year, and the government has planned to invest Rp500 billion. The company is expected to start operations by November 2013," Minister of State Owned Enterprises Dahlan Iskan said here on Monday.

Earlier, Minister of Research and Technology Gusti Muhammad Hatta had said his ministry was continuously studying the pattern of geothermal energy utilization in Indonesia as part of the efforts to ready existing renewable energy sources for tapping by 2025.

"My ministry is continuously studying the utilization patterns since it has been planned that in 2025 new renewable energy should be ready in large amounts," he said.

Gusti added that the National Energy Board (DEN) had predicted that the availability of petroleum would deplete by 2020 so the preparation of renewable energy on a large scale should be started early.

Oil may still be available off the coast but it is deep inside the ocean and will require the use of advance technology and high costs to obtain.

Therefore, the renewable energy derived from various sources such as ocean currents, wind and plants (bio-ethanol) must be reviewed for use, the minister explained.

"In fact, in the near future we will be working on geothermal energy because we (Indonesia, Red) has 44 percent of the world`s geothermal potential," he noted.

The DEN version guided by the blue print of National Energy Management 2004 mentions that Indonesia`s energy source of fossil fuel, which is oil, will be exhausted within 18 years, gas in 61 years, and coal in 147 years.

Currently Indonesia needs as much as 1.5 percent of the world`s oil to reach 10.5 billion tons.

Meanwhile, Indonesia exports as much as 1.5 percent, which means that Indonesia`s ability to produce oil takes care of 3 percent of the total oil consumption in the world.

Earlier, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik said that renewable energy in Indonesia has not been fully utilized, especially the abundant solar energy.

"Solar energy is currently used only for drying coffee and during the tourist season, even though it can be utilized optimally," he said.

Jero noted that energy sources of oil will be exhausted but according to the data from the National Energy Board, renewable energy is currently only 5 percent of the total energy used.

So the government is working towards making sure that renewable energy reaches a minimum of 25 percent of the total energy used in 2025.

According to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, there are currently around 28 sources of geothermal energy with a potential of about 7,000 megawatts that have been licensed for exploration by the Forestry Ministry.

Editor: Priyambodo RH

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Govt Pairs With F Cubed for Safe Drinking Water Project

Jakarta Globe, March 17, 2012

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The Indonesian government has announced it will partner with sustainable water technology firm F Cubed to set up solar-powered desalination kits across the country.

Indroyono Soesilo, secretary at the office of the coordinating minister for people’s welfare, said on Thursday that there was an urgent need to provide a sustainable and reliable source of clean water in villages and isolated communities nationwide.

The decision to partner with F Cubed, he said, was crucial in this respect. “We need to immediately find a solution to providing clean water in areas that experience chronic water shortages,” he said.

He said the Australian company would work with the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) to set up its Carocell solar-powered desalination kits throughout the country.

Peter Johnstone, the F Cubed founder and chief executive, said the desalination technology that his company had pioneered was proven to produce high-quality drinking water.

“Our technology can turn water from any source, be it seawater, groundwater, polluted or even contaminated water, into clean, potable water,” he said. “And because it runs on solar power, the water can be produced at a very low cost.”

Among the other benefits of the Carocell system that the company touts are that it “emits no greenhouse gas emissions, uses no chemicals, no costly membranes, no filters, no electronics and no ongoing power source is required other than solar radiation.”

The system is based on a single or a series of low-cost solar panels that can be mounted on the roof of a building or on the ground. The water goes into a feeder pipe running along the top of the panel, then is allowed to run down in evenly dispersed streams to the bottom of the panel.

As it flows down, it gets heated by the solar panel and vaporizes, condensing on the inside of the panel enclosure and eventually dripping out through a clean water outlet pipe.

F Cubed claims the distillation process, high temperatures and exposure to ultraviolet light kill any bacteria and germs in the water. The company also says its panels have double the solar efficiency of similar water purification systems.

The smaller of its two types of solar panels, with a surface area of three square meters, can produce up to 20 liters of clean water a day, while the larger panel, at six square meters, can produce double that amount.

Each panel converts 30 to 40 percent of the feed water into clean water.

The whole cycle can be carried out six times, after which the remaining fluid, with a high salt concentration, is crystallized to produce salt, as part of the F Cubed’s “zero liquid discharge” technology.

Johnstone said the Carocell panels were already in use in 26 countries, including Malaysia, India and Bangladesh.

“We are currently assessing building a factory in Indonesia with investment of around $10 million,” he said. “We want to participate in efforts to improve people’s welfare by providing clean water and creating jobs.”

F Cubed says that because the system runs entirely on solar power, there are no mechanical parts and no electronics, making it ideal for installation in remote, rural areas, as well as for use in disaster relief situations.

Antara 

Sharp to invest $1 billion in solar tech in Indonesia

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sun, 11/20/2011

Japanese electronics giant Sharp has sealed a deal at the ASEAN Summit in Bali to invest US$ 1 billion in solar cell technology in Indonesia, according to a top government official.

“Sharp has assessed that our country has been blessed with sunlight throughout the years. This has a great potential that is waiting to be explored,” Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik said on Saturday as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Sharp currently has a pilot project in Thailand with 160 hectares of solar cell panels that generate up to 73 megawatts for 23 US cents per kilowatt-hour.

“We’ll discuss the details in upcoming meetings,” he said.

Three Cianjur sub-districts soon to have new solar power plants

Antara News, Sat, April 30 2011

Cianjur, West Java (ANTARA News)- At least 96 solar power plants (PLTS) will soon be built by the West Java Energy and Human Resources Agency in three sub-districts in South Cianjur.

The statement was made by head of Cianjur energy and human resources services Ano Kusmana here on Friday as a follow up of the West Java provincial administration`s efforts in supplying energy for the rural population planned since 2003.

He also said his side is developing a program of developing new solar and alternative power plants known as hydro- and micro-power plants (PLTMH).

The areas covered by the PLTMH program in Cianjur, he said, include Sukamanah village in Cikadu sub-district, for power supply to 135 houses, while the PLTS program will cover Pamoyanan village, Cibinong sub-district with a total of 60 power plants, Gelar Anyar village, Pagelaran sub-district 6 PLTS, and Karangtengah village, in Tanggeung sub-district 30 PLTS.

The new and alternative energy program, he added, is expected to give a benefit by increasing alternative power supply to the regencies in the area.

Besides, he added, it will also boost the economic growth of the villages and their industries as well as improving the quality of education and health.

Editor: Aditia Maruli

Germany Invests 104 Million Us Dollars In Tala PLTA

Antara News, Thu, April 28 2011

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Ambon (ANTARA News) - The German government agreed to invest 104 million US dollars in building a hydro-power plant (PLTA) in Tala, western Seram regency in Maluku.

"Tala PLTA has a capacity of 4 x 15 megawatts (MW) to be built soon to foster power supply system in the area," general manager state power company PT. PLN for Maluku and North Maluku I Nyoman Astawa said here Wednesday.

PLTA Tala will be built after the completion of Piru steam power plant (PLTU) which will have a capacity of 2 x 3 MW.

Tala PLTA is also a PLN long term program stretching to 2020, for fostering the power supply system in Ambon Island, and later to Seram Island, Southeast Maluku, and other areas in Maluku.

Maluku and North Maluku provinces are for the time being electrified by solar power plants (PLTS).

And because diesel power plants are too costly to build, PLN also had problems in the transportation of fuel oil, he added

Editor: Aditia Maruli

Bilateral relations RI, China to cooperate in developing renewable energy

The Jakarta Post, Rangga D. Fadillah, Jakarta | Wed, 04/27/2011

Indonesian and Chinese business owners have affirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in developing Indonesia’s renewable energy sector in a bid to help the country reduce dependence on fossil fuels and boost economic growth.

The secretary general for China’s National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation, Ambassador Wu Zhenlong, said that as developing nations, Indonesia and China had similar challenges in accelerating their economic growth, particularly in the issue of energy security.

“We’ve the same challenges related to energy issues so it [the cooperation] is to exchange ideas and experiences for the benefit of both of us,” he told The Jakarta Post in an exclusive interview on the sideline of Indonesia-China business meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday.

China had been committed to working with not only the Indonesian government but also private companies to increase energy supply from renewable resources such as wind, water and solar power, he added.

“The prospect of renewable energy businesses in Indonesia is very bright, considering the country is rich with resources. The two countries can do a lot of things together,” he said.

Ambassador Wu led an entourage comprising Chinese businessmen to meet with Indonesia’s stakeholders in several business sectors, including tourism and renewable energy. The visit aimed to seek new areas of cooperation, he said in his opening remarks at the meeting.

“This meeting will be a great venture to expand the two countries’ bilateral relations,” he said.

Ambassador Wu claimed that China had considerable competence in the renewable energy sector through its long journey in developing wind, hydro and solar power plants in the country.

“Between 1950s and the 1970s, we focused on hydro-power projects to provide electricity for our people. 

In 1980, we started to develop solar, wind and other renewable energy,” he reported.

Currently, he revealed, China’s wind power plants had a total capacity of 4,000 megawatts. The country was also well-known as the number-one producer of solar panels in the world, he added.

In 2020, China plans to build more wind power plants to reach a total capacity of between 15,000 and 20,000 megawatts. The country is also eager to improve its solar and hydro power plants’ capacity to over 5,000 megawatts and 30,000 megawatts respectively that year.

Ambassador Wu claimed that China currently utilized domestic resources in boosting its renewable energy utilization. All technologies used in renewable energy projects were developed by local firms, he added.

The chairman for Indonesia Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation, Jusuf Wanandi, welcomed the commitment of Chinese business delegates expressed by Ambassador Wu.

“I hope this meeting isn’t the last. We’re looking forward to haveing other forthcoming meetings to tighten the Indonesia-China bilateral cooperation,” he said in his opening remarks.   

Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) is a tripartite network of 26 member committees comprised of senior individuals from business and industry, government, academic and other intellectual circles dedicated to the promotion of regional cooperation and dialog.

PECC is a non-governmental official observer at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

PLN to install solar panels for 340,000 customers

Rangga D. Fadillah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 04/08/2011

State electricity utility PT PLN has targeted to install solar panels for 340,000 new customers in eastern Indonesia this year with a total investment of around Rp 1.2 trillion (US$138.76 million), a senior official reveals.

PLN operational director for eastern Indonesia Vickner Sinaga said Friday that using solar panels was the best solution to provide electricity to people living in less developed areas in the eastern part of the country.

“By using solar panels, customers only need to pay Rp 35,000 per month to PLN. The price is cheaper compared to Rp 90,000 each family has to spend per month to buy kerosene for petromax lamps,” he told reporters at a media briefing at his office in Jakarta.

Currently, 1,234 customers in eastern Indonesia use solar panels in their houses, Vickner said. New customers should not worry about funds to buy the solar panels because PLN would provide them free of charge, he added.

“The price of a solar panel package is Rp 3.5 million comprising the panel, pipes, cables and three lamps. PLN will provide customers with the package,” he explained.

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PLN provides solar power generators for Mentawai

Antara News, Wednesday, November 3, 2010 21:11 WIB

Padang, W Sumatra (ANTARA News) - State-owned power utility company PLN provided 60 sets of solar power generators (PLTS) for the victims of earthquake and its subsequent tsunami disasters in Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra, a PLN official said.

"The 60 sets of PLTS will be sent to the evacuation centers to provide the victims with lighting," PLN Operation Director for Western Indonesia Harry Jaya Pahlawan said here on Wednesday.

He said that one set of PLTS consisted of three 100 watt lamps and one solar panel. "Each PLTS is able to turn on a 300 watt lamp and could last for 6 to 8 hours," he said.

Harry said that the PLTS were badly needed by the disaster`s survivors which were not staying at refugee camps. After all the power generators (PLTG) network in Sikakap subdistrict, Mentawai district, had not yet functioned.

On October 25, 2010, a magnitude-7.2 earthquake and a subsequent tsunami hit the Mentawai Islands district, West Sumatra, killing at least 408 people and caused no less than 303 others to go missing.

A total of 270 people are seriously injured and 142 lightly injured in the disaster. The 7.2 magnitude temblor and the tsunami devastated 517 buildings and cast minor damage to 204 buildings.

A total of 22,595 residents of the total 26,004 dwelling in Bumi Sikkerei were reported to be evacuated in safe places.

WHO assistance to create healthy, pleasant traditional markets

Antara News, Thursday, September 23, 2010 00:10 WIB

Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) - The World Health Organization (WHO) has provided 2,400 US dollars to support a program to improve the sanitary health infrastructure of the Argosari traditional market in Wonosari, Gunung Kidul district.

A Health Ministry official, Wilfred M Purba, said here Wednesday the financial assistance was given under a cooperation agreement between the ministry and WHO.

"The program has a non-physical aspect , namely to change the general public`s perception of traditional markets as disorderly, untidy, dirty establishments so that they would be able to compete with modern markets which were already beginning to operate in Gunung Kidul district." he said.

He said the physical assistance in the form of infrastructure was given based on the traditional market`s needs determined by market`s stakeholders and the Gunung Kidul district government.

According to Wilfred, the best way to create a healthy traditional market was changing the market stakeholders behavior, namely the behavior of the people selling their goods in the market, the market visitors, the market traders` association and the market management.

He said altering the stakeholders` behavior was important to change the traditional market`s image in addition to the provision of supporting facilities needed to keep the market healthy, clean, neat and pleasant to see.

"The direction of the traditional market can be used for buying and selling transactions and tourism market so that visitors besides buying what they need can also engage in recreation," he said.

He said the Argosari traditional market as one of tens of traditional markets in Indonesia which turned into model traditional markets.

A WHO Indonesia officer, Tri Prasetyo, said the aim of the programs was also to anticipate the spread of avian influenza.

"The interest of market users will possible decrease if directly talking about the anticipation of avian influenza so that we have delivered to the people about a healthy market as general," he said.

He said that the traditional market program had been implemented since July 2009 and it would end on 2011. "Now we are coming to the phase of training the market management." he said.

Local banks still shy to fund green projects: UN

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 09/02/2010 9:59 AM

Indonesian banks and financial institutions are reluctant to finance carbon trading projects — despite the government’s drive to cut emissions and fight climate change, says a UN report.

The report shows that Malaysia has 83 registered projects promoting clean development mechanisms (CDMs), surpassing 48 projects registered in Indonesia.

The Malaysian government has 176 approved CDM projects, Thailand has 133 and Indonesia has 131, the report said.

“We are very eager to see the local banking system finance CDM projects,” National Council on Climate Change (DNPI) CDM unit head Dicky Edwin Hindarto said Wednesday.

Dicky said that the investment climate was far more favorable in Malaysia, where the local banking system supported CDM projects.

Clean development mechanisms were developed under the Kyoto Protocol to allow companies in developing countries to develop emission reduction projects.

The Kyoto Protocol required rich nations to cut 5 percent of their emissions from 1997 levels and allowed rich nations to finance emission reduction projects in developing countries.

Governments in developing countries approve CDM projects before forwarding them to the UN executive board for approval, Dicky said.

The CDM executive board will issue certificates for approved projects that can be traded on the international market for US$10 per ton of emissions.

CDM projects can take the form of energy saving initiatives that promote the shift from coal-based fuels to more ecologically-friendly sources.

Countries with forests can also fund reforestation with CDM programs, but none of Indonesia’s 131 projects involve forests, Dicky said.

“It is all energy-related projects,” Dicky added.

Indonesia’s 120 million hectares of rainforests make it the world’s third largest forested country. The nation is promoting emission reduction under the UN’s defo-restation and forest degradation (REDD) scheme, which is expected to replace CDM forestry projects.

The UN executive board currently has 2,347 registered CDM projects. China and India had the most projects, recording 959 and 527 respectively. China has also several forestry-related CDM projects.

Dicky said that the UN had issued certificates to six projects with a total of 346,000 tons of emissions per year.

Tinamitra Mandiri president director Shana Fatina said there are difficulties in convincing banks to finance environmental projects.

Tinamitra Mandiri, which was created in March 2010, will develop a CDM project by shifting 571 public buses in Cirebon from diesel to natural gas, Shana said.

“We are still calculating the total emission that can be saved by shifting fuels,” she added.

The company will supply converter kits for the buses.

“It needs a lot of investment because we will replace all buses made before 2005,” said Shana, a 23-year-old recent graduate of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

She said that the company would set up its own gas stations in Cirebon to ensure the gas supply.

“We will integrate it with auto repair shops and the monitoring system,” she said.