President Jokowi: Indonesia Gears up to Play Role in Energy

President Jokowi delivers a keynote address at the 2020 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC), Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Monday (13/1). (Photo by: RAH/PR)

In a forum that brought together policy makers from various countries, experts in various fields of industry, technology innovation, as well as a new generation of world leaders, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Monday (13/1) raised several important issues regarding trends in energy change and how Indonesia plays its main role in energy field in the future.

“As the world’s number one nickel producer, Indonesia is ready to supply the fast-growing and increasingly important lithium-ion battery industries,” said the President in his keynote address at the 2020 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) in Abu Dhabi.

According to the President, Indonesia’s role in supplying nickel to the world is part of its contribution to the future of energy conservation.

The President also expressed belief that electrification of transportation system such as the transition to electric vehicles will increase the need for lithium-ion and nickel batteries. Utility-scale lithium-ion battery facilities, such as the Tesla facility in South Australia are crucial in the global transition to renewable energy, the President added.

To that end, the President called on the 2020 ADSW participants to partner with Indonesia to build a domestic industry to produce components and eventually battery cells as a natural downstream extension of Indonesia’s nickel production.

In the forum, the President also mentioned that as the world’s largest palm producer, Indonesia plays a major role in the future in the energy sector through the transition to renewable biofuels.

According to the President, last year Indonesia implemented a mandatory biodiesel requirement called B20, of which diesel fuels must contain at least 20 percent biodiesel palm oil. This policy not only saved US$3.4 billion in fuel imports but also saved 8.9 million tons of CO2 emissions.

“We will increase biodiesel to B30 this year which in turn will save fuel imports and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said the President, adding that a number of important reforms to restructure the country’s energy system are in place to meet the challenges of environmental sustainability and macroeconomic stability.

However, in addressing climate change issue, according to the President, we have a limited time.

The President emphasized that climate change and environmental challenges will be the issue of this age but this enormous challenge also represents a huge opportunity to clean the air, reduce noise, and build a new city for a new generation.

“What is needed now is a bold initiative on a large scale,” said the President, while reiterating the 2020 ADSW participants to invest in areas where renewable energy and clean technology create sustainable lives for economic and social development. (EN/RAH/ES)

Translated by: Muhardi

Reviewed by: Lulu Wuliarti