Indonesia accelerates 100 GW solar energy development

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto announced plans to build solar power plants (PLTS) with a combined capacity of 100 gigawatts (GW) over the next two years as part of Indonesia's strategy to strengthen energy independence and reduce carbon emissions.

Speaking at the launch of the B50 biodiesel mandate at the KM 57 Rest Area on the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road in Karawang, West Java, on Thursday, Prabowo said large-scale solar power development would become a key pillar of the country's clean energy transition.

"The international community is taking notice of us because we are leading efforts to reduce carbon emissions. They know we have the B50 program, which has helped us reduce carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 44 million tons. Now imagine if they knew about our plan to develop 100 gigawatts of solar power plants," Prabowo said.

He said state-owned electricity company PT PLN is scheduled to begin construction of solar power plants with a total capacity of 17 GW this year.

"One hundred gigawatts in two years - is it possible?" the president asked officials attending the event.

Investment and Downstream Development Minister Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia responded by expressing their commitment to achieving the target of developing 100 GW of solar power capacity within the next two years.

Prabowo said the solar power expansion, together with the implementation of the B50 program, is essential to achieving national energy independence, given the strategic role of energy in supporting the country's long-term resilience.

"We are very grateful to have vast geothermal reserves, coal reserves, and gas reserves, which remain among the largest in the world. We have also recently discovered a very large gas field in Andaman, in addition to the fields in Masela and Natuna," he said.

The president also revealed that a report submitted by his staff showed Indonesia possesses abundant compressed natural gas (CNG) reserves in various parts of the country, which could serve as an alternative to imported liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

"We have recently discovered large gas fields, and we have also learned that we have abundant CNG resources. While we still import LPG, we have a very large amount of CNG. Central Java has already adopted CNG extensively, and we will continue promoting its use," Prabowo said.

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Translator: Genta Tenri, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Editor: Primayanti

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