Minister: MoU on Energy between Indonesia, Singapore to Encourage New, Renewable Energy Development
The Signing of MoU on Energy Cooperation between Indonesia and Singapore (Photo source: PR of Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources)
A series of bilateral meetings between President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong, Tuesday (01/25), in Bintan regency, Riau Islands province, has resulted a number of agreements between two countries, one of which is bilateral partnership in the energy sector.
“The retreat meeting noted that there were new investments worth US$9.2 billion, including in the field of new and renewable energy around Batam and Sumba Island and West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara province; as well as the construction of a logistics hub at the Tanjung Priok Port,” President Jokowi delivered his statement after the bilateral meeting with PM Lee.
The Head of State also underscored that the investments in new and renewable energy sector will continue to be Government’s priority in order to develop green economy and sustainable economy.
Before the bilateral meeting between President Jokowi and PM Lee was carried out, Indonesia and Singapore had agreed upon the MoU on Energy. The MoU signing was conducted by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif and Second Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore Tan See Leng on Friday (01/21)
“I notice that the importance of the MoU at the G-to-G (government-to-government) level as the basis between two countries to encourage and improve energy cooperation project initiatives, both at the government level and at the business level,” Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources said after signing the MoU.
This MoU, Arifin continued, will be a legal basis for a number of sectors as follows:
- The development of new, renewable energy such as Solar Power Plants (PLTS) and hydrogen.
- Cross-border electricity interconnection and regional power grid, energy trade, energy project financing;
- Capacity building of human resources.
Moreover, Arifin further said, this MoU also regulates the implementation of the Working Group on Energy that will be regular forum to monitor, evaluate, and establish energy cooperation in order to realize energy transition in the two countries.
“Topics namely CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage) and the development of new and renewable energy will be discussed at the forum,” he added.
On the occasion, Arifin said that the development of new and renewable energy between the two countries is important to support the development of Green Data Centre and Renewable Energy Based Industry, adding that, the development will contribute to energy transition measures and commitment to reduce carbon emissions in two countries.
Arifin emphasized that sustainable energy transition is one of priorities of Indonesia’s G20 Presidency in 2022. With Indonesia’s G20 Presidency, it is expected that Singapore has an opportunity to contribute in achieving energy transition’s goal.
For the record, on October 25, 2021, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources witnessed the signing of two Joint Development Agreements (JDA) on the Development of Solar Power Plants between Indonesian and Singaporean business entities namely JDA between renewable energy developer PT Trisurya Mitra Bersama, subsidiary of state electricity company PLN Batam and Singapore-based engineering services company Sembcorp Industries, as well as JDA between oil and gas producer Med Power Energy, Singapore-based investment company Gallant Venture and Singapore-based power generator and electricity retailer PacificLight Energy.
These agreements will be a legal basis for the plan of electric power export generated by Solar Power Plants in Indonesia to Singapore using transmission technology of HVAC (Hight Voltage Alternative Current) under the sea. (PR of Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources/UN) (AP/LW)
