National Electric Car Can Begin Mass Production in 2013: Dahlan

Jakarta Globe, July 16, 2012

Depok Mayor Nurmahmudi Ismail, in the driver’s seat, tests an electric
 car on Jatimulya in Depok in West Java, on Friday. The car, which was
 invented by Depok resident Dasep Ahmadi, reportedly runs 150 kilometers,
 or between four and five hours on a single charge. (Antara Photo/Indrianto
Eko Suwarso)

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State-Owned Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan said on Monday that the country can begin mass production of the national electric car as early as next year after doing a test drive of its prototype on Monday. 

“If the infrastructure is ready, we can start mass producing the car with a capacity of 5,000 units per year,” he claimed. 

The minister drove the prototype of the Ahmadi Mesin 5.0 electric car, which was named after its maker Dasep Ahmadi, 48 kilometers from its garage at Jati Mulya, on the outskirts of Jakarta, to the Research and Technology Ministry building on Jalan Thamrin in Central Jakarta. 

The prototype so far only has a local police road certificate since regulations on taxes and registrations for electric vehicles, which do not fall under existing categories, have yet to be put in place.

Dahlan said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has already instructed the ministers for industry, research and technology and trade to work on the necessary regulations. 

“Within the next three months, there should be a clear technical guide for commercial regulations, so that the car can be mass produced,” Dahlan said. 

Besides Ahmadi’s electric car, there are four other versions in the final stages of completion under the minibus, city car and sports car categories.

Antara

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Homegrown Electric Car Can Go the Distance: Govt

Homegrown Electric Car Can Go the Distance: Govt

Jakarta Globe, June 24, 2012

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Indonesian scientists have unveiled an electric car that they claim can travel 150 kilometers on a single charge, further than most electric city cars available today.

Two prototypes of the car were rolled out on Thursday at the National Monument (Monas) Park in Central Jakarta by researchers from the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).

“This car is fueled entirely by electricity and is not a hybrid vehicle,” said Agus Hoetman, an adviser to Research and Technology Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta.

“We are currently testing it for urban use,” he said, adding that the car was particularly suited for the stop-start driving pattern in a congested city environment.

“This car saves energy because there are no parts in the engine that need to keep moving when the car is stationary during a traffic jam. That’s different from gasoline-fueled cars,” he said.

Agus said the car had a range of up to 150 kilometers on a single charge, further than the 60-145 kilometers currently available from electric cars with a top speed of less than 100 kilometers an hour.

He said that in a recent test, the researchers almost managed to complete a round trip from Jakarta to Bandung on a single charge. The distance each way is about 130 kilometers.

Hatta previously said the government was earmarking Rp 100 billion ($10.6 million) for the development of an Indonesian-built electric car by four state universities. He said the universities were expected to present their designs soon, before production could begin sometime in 2014.

The minister also said that LIPI had been allocated Rp 1.2 trillion to develop an electric minibus capable of carrying up to 16 passengers.

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Diponegoro University to build Geothermal Study Center

Antara News, Mon, May 14 2012

 "One day, the use of fossil energy will end."

Semarang, Central Java (ANTARA News) - Diponegoro University of Semarang, central Java, is building a Geothermal Research Center to be run by the Faculty of Science and Mathematics to examine potential geothermal resources in Indonesia.

"The Geophysics and Geothermal Research Centre building begins today and is targeted to be completed in November 2012," said Dean of the university`s Faculty of Science and Mathematics M. Nur here on Monday.

Nur added that fossil energy cannot remain plentiful forever and will someday be depleted due to excessive consumption. So, renewable energy such as geothermal would be a needed breakthrough.

"We see the geothermal energy potential in Central Java is located in the Mount Dieng area, Wonosobo and Ungaran, and Semarang regency. The Geothermal Research Center is expected to assist in the use of alternative energy," he said.

Nur noted that the Geophysics and Geothermal Research Centre building will be built in an area of 2.105 square meters and supported by the state`s Oil and Gas Company, PT Pertamina.

"One day, the use of fossil energy will end. Oil-fueled cars will be finished. Therefore, we need a long-term breakthrough for new renewable energy use," he said.

According to the university`s Rector, Sudharto, Indonesia's use of fossil energy is still as high as 95 percent, using petroleum, natural gas, and coal, and the remaining five percent is made up of new renewable energy alternatives.

Though national renewable energy consumption is only five percent, it is targeted to be increased to 17 percent by 2025.

Pertamina General Manager Retail Fuel Marketing Region IV Rifky Hardijanto Effendi added that, with the funding for construction of this facility, this is the third time Pertamina has contributed to construction at the university.

"We distributed Rp7.2 billion to build the Geophysics and Geothermal facility, and earlier we also helped construct the building at the university's Faculty of Economics and Faculty of Engineering," he said.

Editor: Priyambodo RH

Indonesia Bids to Host Future Clean Technology Center

Jakarta Globe, March 20, 2012

The surge in wind energy could save 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon
dioxide emissions each year 

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Paris. Plans for a global center to help transfer clean technology to poorer countries have drawn nine bids, including from Indonesia’s National Council on Climate Change, the UN climate forum said on Monday. 

Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) backed the proposal at a meeting in Durban, South Africa last December. 

Bidders to host the center include a 13-member consortium led by the Kenya-based UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and whose ranks include energy research institutes in India, the United States and Netherlands, the UNFCCC said in a press release. 

Others are the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), a Washington-based international funder of environmental programmes; Costa Rica’s Institute of Technology; and Indonesia’s National Council on Climate Change. 

There is also a bid by the Research Institute of Petrolum Industry (RIPI) in Tehran, which carries out research for Iran’s oil and gas sector. 

Fossil fuels are the biggest contributor to global warming, which scientists say is inflicting worrying changes to the climate system. 

The nine applicants will be whittled down to a shortlist of five next month. 

In May, a UNFCCC expert panel will propose the winner. Final approval rests with the UNFCCC’s annual ministerial-level meeting, taking place in Qatar from November 26 - December 7. 

Agence France-Presse

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Ministry eyes desalination technology to mitigate potential water crisis

The Jakarta Post,  Sun, 09/04/2011

The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has developed sea water desalination technology to convert sea water into fresh water to cope with the possibility of a water crisis.

“Making mineral water from the sea is a strategic step in anticipating the possibility of a clean water crisis in the future,” Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad said on Saturday, as reported by kompas.com.

The desalinated water could be a pivotal shift in fresh water supplies. The process could also produce salt.

According to the ministry, Indonesia has several potential locations where this technology could be developed. The areas include Nusa Penida and Gondol in Bali, Lombok Strait in West Nusa Tenggara, Biak Island in Papua and Pelabuhan Ratu in West Java.

Around 70 percent, or 5.8 million kilometers, of Indonesian territory is comprised of water.

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USAID to Inject $1m Into Neglected Research Sector

Jakarta Globe, Ismira Lutfia, July 15, 2011

A lack of opportunities in Indonesia has prompted about two
million local scientists to seek employment abroad. 
(Antara Photo/Anis Efizudin) 

The Indonesian scientific community has welcomed a $1.1 million research grant from the United States as a much-needed shot in the arm, but scientists say more domestic support is needed.

The funding, to be channeled through a new USAID project dubbed Partnerships to Enhance Engagement in Research, was announced during a 10-day visit by Bruce Alberts, a special US science envoy to Muslim-majority countries, which ended on Tuesday.

The initial funding will be made available for Indonesian researchers to participate in US National Science Foundation research projects with American scientists.

Walter North, director of USAID in Indonesia, said the grant would finance joint research projects between Indonesian and US scientists, which the foundation previously did not fund.

“We would like to encourage more collaboration between US and Indonesian scientists through this financing,” he said.

North added that the grant was expected to support up to 50 joint research projects over the next two or three years.

He said there were many ways to make the funding available, including through the Indonesian-American Kavli Frontiers of Sciences Symposium, organized by the Indonesian Academy of Sciences (AIPI), the US National Academy of Sciences and the US Department of State.

The symposium, which Alberts attended, brought together 70 leading young Indonesian and American scientists last weekend in Bogor to discuss opportunities in their fields. The scientists’ presentations highlighted major research challenges, methodologies and limitations to progress at the frontiers of various disciplines.

In addition to affording Indonesian and American scientists the chance to share their research, the symposium provided an important way for researchers to develop stronger relationships in the interests of future collaboration.

“It was one of the ways to make researchers eligible for the research grants,” North said. “We want to help Indonesia to become a leader in science, as science can help to overcome the challenges that Indonesia faces.”

Ibnu Maryanto, a researcher from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), welcomed the news, citing a dearth of domestic funding for research and development. However, he also warned that research findings could end up benefiting the United States more than Indonesia.

“From a research and development point of view, it’s a good opportunity to enhance our knowledge, but we must also keep in mind that there is no such thing as free [research] funding,” he said on Friday.

Ibnu said developed countries were increasingly looking to tropical countries for research and development projects, largely because of the abundance and availability of biodiversity resources.

“There are plenty of biodiversity resources here that they can develop for various industries, such as pharmaceuticals, biofuels and even biological weapons,” said Ibnu, who is one of the country’s leading bat experts, or chiropterologist.

Despite his cautiousness, Ibnu has benefited from National Science Foundation research projects, having received a research grant this year for a five-year project on transboundary bat migration within Southeast Asia, in which he cooperated with scientists from around the region and the United States.

Ibnu also criticized the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for showing little interest in cultivating a culture of research and development in the country.

He said the sector was robust during the rule of President Suharto, when B.J. Habibie, who would later succeed the strongman, served as minister of research and technology.

“There was a clear correlation between a good R&D environment and an increase in exports,” he said.

Data from the World Bank and Unesco, the UN’s scientific organization, in 2006 showed that Indonesia’s R&D funding was less than $1 billion, or 0.1 percent of its gross domestic product. That put Indonesia far behind neighboring countries such as Thailand, which spent 0.6 percent of its GDP on research, Malaysia (0.7 percent) and Singapore (2.2 percent).

The decline in the research and development sector in Indonesia has led to an exodus of scientists seeking better opportunities abroad, where many have made their mark on the global stage.

According to the National Education Ministry, there are roughly two million Indonesian scientists working as professionals, researchers and academics around the world.

Alberts, who met with various stakeholders in the Indonesian scientific community during his visit, urged Indonesian government officials to invest more resources in basic science research.

Indonesia - Korea to Build Marine and Fisheries Institute in Karawang

Antara News, Wed, July 6 2011

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Jakarta, July 6, 2011 (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) and Korea Marine Institute (KMI) agree to build national Marine and Fisheries Institute in Karawang, West Java.This educational institution which was built in 2012 is the development from Fisheries College (STP) and Fisheries Academy (AP) to become a world-class educational institution. "To realize this program, Karawang Regency has prepared a land area of 65 Hectares. While the budget of 300 billion rupiah will be borne together by the Indonesian and Korean Government for each 150 billion rupiah," explained Head of Marine and Fisheries Human Resources Development, Syarief Widjaya, after opening Indonesia-Korea Ocean and Fisheries Forum (IKOFF) today (6/7) in Jakarta.

The effort to realize this program, KKP previously has done the partnership with the Ministry of National Education so that this marine and fisheries institution can be a world-class higher educational institution and become the Top ten marine and fisheries vocational education in the world. This higher educational institution aims to make superior and characteristic experts to compete in the world of work for national or international level, as well as for make the young enterpreneurs in marine and fisheries sector.

The International Seminar of Indonesia Korea Ocean and Fisheries Forum (The 1st IKOFF) filled with the explanation from leading experts and practitioner in marine, maritime, and fisheries from Indonesia and Korea with three sub-themes, which are sustainable preservation and development of marine and coastal; new source of technology and creative activities of marine. One day before, KKP and KMI has done the signing of Letter of Intent (LoI) to increase partnership in marine and fisheries sector between Indonesia and Korea. This agreement signed by Secretary General of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), Gellwynn Jusuf with the President of Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), Hak So Kim, also witnessed by Chairman of Land, Transportation, and Marine Affairs Comission of the Korean House of Representatives, Kwang Keun Chang.

KKP and KMI will be looking for the opportunity to increase partnership in scientific and marine and fisheries research, development and enhancement the capacity of marine technology, marine resources for alternative energy, sustainable and integrated management of marine ecosystem and coastal, fisheries biological resources conservation, the establishment of marine policy study centre, including marine and fisheries," explained Fadel. According to him, these opportunities will be achieved by training, workshop and increasing of other building capacity, such as research and joint development, exchange of experts, information, and related data. For the implementation of this agreement, KKP and KMI will appoint each vocal point to discuss more about operational stride.

For further information, please contact Dr. Yulistyo Mudho, M.Sc, Head of Data, Statistics and Information Center, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (Mobile: 0811836967)

London Calling for Young Indonesian Innovators

Jakarta Globe, Sylviana Hamdani, June 27, 2011

From left, UK Ambassador to Indonesia Martin Hatfull; Perdana Karta Yudha,
 national winner in the screen category (2010); Muhammad Lukman, international
 runner-up in the interactive category (2010); and the ambassador’s wife,
Phyllis Hatfull. (Photo courtesy of the British Council)

Sometimes, all you need to do is get two creative people together in the same room and magic will happen. That’s a big part of what the International Young Creative Entrepreneur Awards are all about.

Take, for example, Indonesian fashion designer Oscar Lawalata. In 2009, he won the fashion category at the IYCE Awards. That gave him the opportunity to present his fashion collections and business ideas to British designers in London.

It was there he met renowned textile designer Laura Miles. Laura and Oscar quickly became friends due to her interest in tenun ikat, a hand-woven textile with tie-dye motif from Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara, that Oscar brought to London for his visit. She loved the uniquely Indonesian textile so much that she collaborated with Oscar to make a line of clothing using tenun ikat, which was presented at Jakarta Fashion Week in 2010.

“Oscar’s win was quite phenomenal,” said Elsa Sasmita, a program officer for the British Council. “One thing leads to another. We’ve heard that this year, Oscar will also collaborate with famed British milliner [hat designer] Justin Smith, whom he also met during his visit to London.”

Oscar is one of many success stories to come out of the IYCE Awards. Since their inception in 2006, the IYCE Awards have helped highlight and connect more than 650 creative entrepreneurs from Indonesia with UK businesses and industry leaders. The awards have also given Indonesian entrepreneurs global exposure and helped them broaden their international networks.

“The IYCE Awards are designed to develop talented local entrepreneurs,” said Keith Davies, country director of the British Council in Indonesia. “We’ll help them grow their businesses through this program. In return, they’re expected to develop creative industries in Indonesia.”

The IYCE awards honor entrepreneurs from four creative industries — design, fashion, interactive media and film. The British Council has selected three judges for each category of the competition. They are professionals, academics and members of the media. They include Arief Suditomo, editor in chief of TV station RCTI, in the film category, and designer Edward Hutabarat in the fashion category.

This year, the British Council decided to broaden the awards’ age limit, which had required entrants to be between 25 and 35 years old, to between 21 and 40. “We’ve been seeing a lot of qualified applications from beyond those [previous] ages,’’ Elsa said. “That’s why this year we decided to give more opportunities to more people by broadening the age limit.’’

From the 153 applications received this year, the judges have selected 18 finalists. Among them are Affi Assegaf, owner of femaledaily.com, fashionesedaily.com and mommiesdaily.com, who is a finalist in the fashion and interactive media categories; Titis Sapto Raharjo, owner and editor of Movieholic Production, in the film category; and Mufti Alem, owner of Greeneration Indonesia, which produces environmentally friendly products, for the design category.

“I’m very impressed with all the candidates,’’ Arief said. “They’re all highly creative and have brilliant ideas.’’

“Their creativity and business minds are excellent,’’ Edward said. “Some of their products are lacking a sense of cultural identity. This is very important, as that is what gives Indonesian products their competitive edge.”

The finalists will go through one more judging phase from July 3 to 6, during which they will receive business coaching from experts and visit successful entrepreneurs and businesses.

On the final day, the finalists will give a presentation to the judges regarding their products and business concepts.

“They should highlight five key points — entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation, market awareness and international outlook — in their presentations to the judges,’’ Elsa said.

The names of the winners will be announced on July 6 at the IYCE Awards night, which will take place at the Pekan Produk Kreatif Indonesia (Indonesian Creative Product Week) at the Jakarta Convention Center. The winner in each category will get a seven-day, all-expenses-paid visit to the UK to inspire them with new ideas and introduce them to industry leaders and possible business partners.

“This is what Indonesian entrepreneurs need now,” Edward said. “We have to build on our international outlook. The UK is the place to do that because they have many international artists who can open doors for our local industries, allowing them to reach the global market.”

This year, the winner of the fashion category will attend London Fashion Week in September, while the winner of the design category will attend the London Design Festival, also in September. The winner of the film category will attend the London Film Festival in October, and the winner of the interactive media category will attend the Power to the Pixel workshop the same month.

“We’ve also designed specific programs as well as prearranged meetings and special events in which the winners will meet people in the creative industries in UK,” Elsa said. “They can present their ideas and products to these people and perhaps build the foundations for future collaborations.”

“We hope to become a bridge between the UK and local Indonesian businesses,” Davies said. “We want to develop Indonesian creative businesses to grow in the international market.”

Edward was upbeat about the future. “All of these industries are fueled by our minds, a resource that will never deplete or run out.”

 

For more information on the IYCE Awards 2011, visit www.thebritishcouncil.org.

Aru district developing sea water processing technology

Antara News, Fri, May 27 2011

Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - The Aru Islands District administration in Maluku province is currently developing a technology to process sea water into clean water.

The sea water processing technology is being developed in four villages which have been facing clean water problem so far in the district, head of Aru`s public works department, Ongky Nanulaita, said here on Friday.

He said the application of such a technology has been developed since 2010 by adopting it from Maldives city of Male to ensure the availability of clean and potable l water for the local people`s consumption.

Four villages where the technology is being developed are Kujabi in Aru Tengah Timur sub-district, Marlase in Aru Utara sub-district, Benjina in Aru Tengah sub-district, and Langgarapara in Aru Tengah Selatan sub-district.

"The application of the sea water processing technology in Aru Islands District began with a comparative study in Maldives whose area`s characteristic is the same as that in Aru," Ongky said.

He said it was a new breakthrough in Aru which is mostly made up of low-lying rocky areas.

"With that technology we guarantee the availability of clean healthful water for the local community," Ongky said, adding that the district has lack of water catchment area, except the district town of Dobo.

Thus to maintain the water catchment area in Dobo, Ongky said development of settlement area there should be limited.

Asked if such a technology could also be developed at other villages in the district, Ongky said a careful evaluation was needed to decide if it was possible.

"The application of the technology in the four villages is a pilot project that has to be evaluated to find out if it can be developed as well in other villages," Ongki said.

Editor: Jafar M Sidik

Minister, ambassador launch Coral Reef and Climate Change Guide

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 05/20/2011

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad and Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty on Friday launched the Indonesian version of the University of Queensland’s publication Coral Reefs and Climate Change: A Guide for Education and Awareness.

Fadel, working in collaboration with the University of Queensland, had arranged for the book to be translated into Indonesian.

“Australia is widely recognized for its world-class research in environmental sciences. We are pleased that through this book we will be able to contribute and work together in conserving the beautiful reefs of Indonesia,” Moriarty said in a release received by The Jakarta Post on Friday.

The book aims to increase awareness of coral reef science and preservation. It includes recent scientific research with informative images and covers topics including oceanography, coral reef biology and the implications of climate change.

It provides practical tools and recommendations to chart and measure the health of coral reefs and a program to encourage public involvement in reef conservation.

The original publication was launched in Australia in November 2009 and was produced and published by the Coral Watch Foundation at the University of Queensland.

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RI-US open energy investment roundtable

Antara News, Tue, May 10 2011

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Darwin Zahedy Saleh and US Ambassador Scot Marciel opened the US-Indonesia Energy Investment Roundtable on May 9 in Jakarta.

According to a press release from the US Embassy to Indonesia received here, Tuesday, the Roundtable is a joint effort between the US and Indonesian governments that focuses on the private sector`s role in supporting Indonesia?s energy security and climate change goals as part of the bilateral Energy Policy Dialogue and US-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership.

Approximately 200 participants representing US and Indonesian businesses, government, and trade associations attended the one-day conference.

The Round-table explored ways in which US and other foreign companies can partner with Indonesia to develop and enhance the country`s renewable energy, oil and gas production, and human development.

The event also highlighted policy options to maximize the private sector`s contribution to Indonesia`s economy and energy security goals.

The Roundtable is an integral part of the US-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership, by which the two nations are working closely on clean and renewable energy as well as other key global challenges.

The Partnership advances cooperation on a wide range of issues such as environment, health, education, science and technology, human rights, and entrepreneurship.

The US and Indonesia have engaged in bilateral energy talks since 1990 and launched the Energy Policy Dialogue in 2005 to reaffirm our bilateral ties to support policy options that enhance energy security for both countries.

The most recent Energy Policy Dialogue was held in June 2010 in Washington, D.C.

Editor: Priyambodo RH

Japan offers research scholarships to Indonesian students

Antara News, Mon, April 11 2011

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Japanese government is offering Monbukagakusho scholarships to Indonesian students who wish to participate in research programs in 2012, according to a press release issued the Japanese embassy in Jakarta.

During their studies, students would be allowed to apply to degree programs, namely master, doctoral and professional graduate courses. They can also continue the doctoral degree program after finishing the master or professional graduate course. However, the latter offer is applicable only to students who can pass the examination held by the related university.

Among the requirements that must be met to apply for the scholarship program are ; the participants must born during or after April2, 1977, has the university grade of minimum 3.0 or Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students with minimum score of 260 in two subjects excluding the Japanese language.

The student must have a TOEFL score of minimum 550 or equivalent and surpass the Japanese Language Test at level 2.

The application form for the scholarship can be taken freely at the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta, Japanese Consulate in Surabaya and Medan. The form can also be downloaded at the official website of the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta http://www.id.emb-japan.go.jp.

All documents must be submitted directly or through mail not later than May 11, 2011.

Universities in Japan keeps holding study and research activities despite the recent devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit the country last March 11.

Editor: Priyambodo RH

US Agriculture Under Secretary visits seafast facility

Antara News, Thu, April 7 2011

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Bogor, W Java (ANTARA News) - US Agriculture Undersecretary Michael T Scuse and his delegation visited the Southeast Asian Food and Agricultural Science and Technology Center (SEAFAST) in Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB), Thursday to observe the facility.

The US agriculture delegation`s visit in Bogor was to observe the research infrastructure at the facility, Scuse said here Thursday.

"So the main purpose is to see the SEAFAST facility, and see how the researchers work, " he said.

Scuse also expressed his amazement at the completeness of the facility`s equipment.

Scuse also said Indonesia and the US had a comprehensive partnership which gives an opportunity for cooperation to assist people`s welfare programs.

IPB SEAFAST Center head Purwiyanto Hariyadi said that Michael Scuse`s visit would open better and broader opportunities fot agricultural cooperation in the future.

"Further, the assistance needed will be more in the form of capacity building, agricultural student and researchers exchanges, and many more forms," he said.

According to the US Embassy to Indonesia`s Senior Information Specialist Public Affairs Section Indar Juniardi said that Michael Scuse was appointed as the USDA Acting under Secretary for the Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services (FFAS) by the US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on April 2009.

Scuse`s main task is to handle programs within the FFAS`s mission scope, where the FFAS is appointed to broaden and form a new market for American products, increase US agriculture competitive position also to provide technical assistance and food grants abroad.

Scuse had bee the chairman of the Association of State Agricultural Department in the northeast region, and during his tenure he managed to eradicate the avian flu virus with the help of the University of Delaware and local poultry industries.

Editor: Jafar M Sidik

Two RI vehicles to participate in Shell Eco Marathon 2011

Antara News, Thu, March 3 2011

Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) - Gadjah Mada University (UGM)`s Semar Team is to enter two energy-efficient vehicles in the Shell Eco Marathon 2011 to be held at Malaysia`s Sepang Circuit on July 6-9 2011.

"The two energy efficient vehicles are the Semar Prototype and the Semar Urban," said Jayan Sentanuhady, adviser of Gadjah Mada University`s Semar Team, here Thursday.

The Semar Team was aiming to achieve maximum fuel efficiency and riding distance, Jayan said.

The engines of the energy efficient vehicles were designed for heat efficiency and maximal volume under certain balanced conditions, Jayan said.

"They are long stroke engines with high torque characteristics on the low rev to lower fuel consumption," Jayan, who is also a lecturer of Machine and Industry Engineering of Engineering Faculty of UGM, said.

According to Jayan, the Semar Prototype could cover 280 kilometers on one liter of gasoline.

The Semar Prototype was 2.8 meters long, 0.65 meters high, one meter wide and had a 1.6-meter long wheel base.

The chassis wa made of fiberglass with 2 millimeter thickness, while the engine was a 25 cc four-stroke single cylinder able to take the vehicle to its maximum velocity of 45 km per hour.

Meanwhile, the Semar Urban, which was designed as an energy efficient city car , was now still in a finishing process.

The Semar Urban used a 125 cc four-stroke engine, had double spark plugs which were ignited sequentially using an Electronic Control Unit, and consumed number 95 octane gasoline, Jayan said.

The Semar Urban`s dimensions were 2.3 meter long, 1.3 meter high, and 1.3 meter wide.

To compete in the upcoming competition, the Semar Prototype`s engine, which was 25 cc, would be replaced with a 115 cc engine to gain more power on an uphill road, Jayan said.

The rear swing arm, rear seats and steering paddock would be made separately, Jayan said, adding that the wheel house would be made outside the chassis to maximize its steering wheel turning angle until 45 degree.

With such transformation, Jayan hoped Semar Team could compete and perform well and win the competition.

Editor: Priyambodo RH

Researchers Turn Common Indonesian Plant Into Alternative Fuel

Jakarta Globe, Ismira Lutfia | January 07, 2011     

In an effort to wean rural communities off inefficient and costly kerosene, Indonesian researchers have developed an alternative fuel from a common plant.

Researchers say the fruit of the bintaro can be used to
 make an oil that may be able to replace kerosene.  

The new fuel is derived from the seed of the sea mango tree (Cerbera manghas), known locally as bintaro.

Aris Purwanto, head of the research team at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB), said the idea came after rising kerosene prices in the Teluk Meranti area of the Riau Islands forced villagers to switch to burning wood for cooking.

“The bintaro tree grows all year round and a tree of at least three years of age can produce an average of 300 to 400 fruit a year,” Aris said during a presentation on Wednesday.

To extract the bintaro oil, researchers removed the seeds from the ripened fruit, then dried and crushed them. Aris said 2.9 kilograms of seed yielded one liter of oil.

In an interesting aside, he said the seed kernels contain the toxic substance cerberin, which is often used by local farmers to poison wild animal pests that damage their crops.

“Even in its raw phase, the oil can be used to fuel an electricity generator,” Aris said.

But the researchers experimented further, refining the oil by mixing it with water and storing it until an oil-water dispersion was achieved.

This refined oil, they said, can be used to fuel a fire, such as in a kerosene stove.

However, Aris said that because it had a much higher viscosity than kerosene or diesel, and hence different combustion properties, stoves and generators would have to be modified slightly to ensure the oil worked.

The viscosity difference means that the bintaro oil is too thick to vaporize into a flammable spray, as required in the combustion chamber of a kerosene stove or diesel-powered generator.

To use it to power a generator, for instance, a converter must first be used to heat the oil to 70 degrees Celsius to lower its viscosity to the level of diesel.

Even then, the generator needs to have been running for four to five minutes on diesel before the bintaro oil can be added to the external tank and the diesel supply shut off.

Aris acknowledged bintaro oil could not yet be classified as a biofuel, and was not yet a viable replacement for conventional fossil fuels.

He said that with only four months of development behind it, more research and processing was needed before bintaro oil could viably generate sufficient power to fuel heavier machinery such as motor vehicles.

In the meantime, he said, it is sufficient for basic cooking needs such as boiling water or cooking rice, allowing it to take over some of the role of kerosene.

“We aim to develop this as an alternative energy source for people in remote areas, so that they’re not overly dependent on kerosene,” he said .

He added that bintaro trees were common in many rural areas and relatively easy to grow, making it easy for villagers to collect the necessary seeds.

The tree is also frequently used in greening projects in residential areas across the country .

Marzuki Effendi, one of the Teluk Meranti villagers who attended Wednesday’s presentation, said that bintaro-fueled stoves produced an intense blue flame that brought water to the boil in just four minutes.

With kerosene, he said, boiling water took eight minutes.

Marzuki said another downside to kerosene was its high cost.

The fuel typically costs Rp 6,000 to Rp 8,000 (66 to 88 cents) per liter in the area, he said.

Kerosene distributed to the public is supposed to be subsidized by the government, although distributors almost invariably charge a commission on sales.

In addition to being expensive, it is increasingly difficult to source, a result of the government’s plan to replace it with liquefied petroleum gas.

However, the kerosene-to-gas campaign has concentrated largely on urban areas, with many rural communities yet to receive the free liquefied petroleum gas stoves and canisters that are part of the program.

Nuclear power ‘not feasible’ for RI: Expert

Imung Yuniardi, The Jakarta Post, SEMARANG | Thu, 12/23/2010

Developing nuclear power in Indonesia is not feasible due to the huge initial investment required and the high price of uranium, a government energy expert says.

There is no reason for the Indonesian government to develop nuclear power plants (PLTN) given the lower costs of renewable energy power generators, according to Rinaldy Dalimi of the National Energy Council.

“This is no longer an issue of safety but more about investment calculations and a consideration of the fact that Indonesia will have to import uranium should it develop a PLTN,” Rinaldy said at a seminar on new and renewable energy in Semarang, Central Java, on Tuesday.

According to Rinaldy, who is also a professor at the University of Indonesia, the nation’s uranium reserves were relatively small and could only power a single 3,000-megawatt nuclear reactor for 11 years.

Plans to establish a nuclear power, first mooted during Soeharto’s era, have drawn criticism from environmental organizations.

During a hearing in May, legislators urged the government to be serious in realizing its plan to build a nuclear power plant in Jepara, Central Java.

Rinaldy said a nuclear power plant would require US$4,000 to produce a single kilowatt of electricity while a steam-powered generator would require $800 to produce the same amount.

“The price of the energy that [nuclear power plants] produce therefore will surely be much higher when compared to electricity produced by a PLTU or PLTG [gas-powered generator],” he said.

Pressure to develop nuclear power in Indonesia might have come from countries with nuclear technology such as Japan and Russia, he said, adding that only 15 percent of countries worldwide had nuclear power plants.

“They have approached Indonesia over consideration that the government’s policies still support the development of PLTNs.”

The main objective of establishing the National Atom Agency (BATAN) and other nuclear-related institutions over the last 56 years ago was not to produce electricity but to master nuclear technology, according to Rinaldy.

The government so far has heard only one side of the case for nuclear power development, Rinaldy said.

Rinaldy said that BATAN should organize a national forum where differing parties could meet and talk further about nuclear power development in Indonesia based on the latest developments in energy technology.

He said developed countries had been developing cheap sources of renewable energy such as solar cell technology.

“My suggestion is the government initiate the use of renewable energy. By 2050 at least 75 percent of energy used in Indonesia should be renewable.”

Electricity power pundit Nengah Sudja agreed, suggesting that BATAN should not promote nuclear power plants but instead investigate the use of nuclear energy in the areas of health and medicine, industry and research, food and agriculture.

Responsibility for electricity production should rest with state electricity company PT PLN or private companies, Nengah said.

Nengah said the government had not given sufficient support to research institutions such as BATAN, the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) to develop cheap sources of renewable energy.