IO – The use of new renewable energies is a priority program required to help the State reduce its dependence on fossil-based energy. Vice President Ma’ruf Amin reminds us that Indonesia is still strongly dependent on fossil-based energy, which is mostly imported. “For example, the primary cooking fuel for most households in Indonesia is LPG. More than 70% of this fuel is imported. We need to wean ourselves off this dependency by gradually changing its use to locally available, renewable new energy sources. According to the National Energy Board (Dewan Energi Nasional – “DEN”), the primary national energy mix in 2019 is 37.15% coal, 33.58% petroleum, 20.13% natural gas, and only 9.15% new renewable energies,” he said in his online address on the Fifth Anniversary and First Lustrum of Pertamina University 2021 on Monday (01/02/2021).
Ma’ruf went on to say that the Government sets the target for the level of renewable energy use in the mix to 23% by 2025, increasing to 31% by 2050. “Right now, this target is still very hard to achieve because again, our use of new renewable energy is only 9.15%. Indonesia needs to learn from countries that have successfully utilized new renewable energies. For example, Germany. Its level of renewable energy source in its primary energy use is 85% of its national energy.
German’s renewable energy sources come from the sun, the wind, biomass waste, and hydroelectricity. This is because its Government provides research, innovation, and investments to support its declaration that all of Germany’s energy should come from green and clean sources by 2050,” he said. Indonesia actually has great renewable energy potential, especially from the sun, the wind, and hydroelectricity. Our location along the equator means that we have a great potential of sun, wind, and sea energies for use in both industry and household – but we just don’t manage it optimally. Therefore, other than investments, we need to step up our research and innovation for Indonesia’s energy industry. This energy mix target for renewable energy use by 2025 cannot be achieved if we don’t improve our own research and innovation,” the VP said. (eka)