President Jokowi Reveals Three Big Challenges in Just Energy Transition

President Joko Widodo

Every country has different challenges and needs in transforming energy system. Energy transition is not only about shifting the use of fossil fuel to renewable energy, but it also concerns a very complex aspect, starting from science and technology to social, economic, and environmental aspects.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo made the statement during his keynote remarks on S20 High Level Policy Webinar on Just Energy Transition, on Thursday (03/17) in an online session.

“Energy transition will change many things, such as jobs, development scenario, business orientation, and so on. Therefore, viable strategies and mechanisms are needed to identify the existing and upcoming challenges, so that a just and even low carbon energy transition can be realized well,” the President said.

The Head of State unveiled three big challenges in energy transition that need to be addressed. First, access to clean energy.

“We are facing the reality that not all global citizens have access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy. We have to encourage the provision of clean energy for all, especially energy used for electrification and clean cooking. Leaving no one behind,” he said.

Second, funding. The President added that transition process needs a huge funding source.

“Energy transition needs new projects, which means that new investment is needed. Therefore, a viable funding mechanism is needed to create economic value, competitive price, without burdening the people,” he explained.

Third, supports for research and technology. The Head of State emphasized that energy transition needs the role of science and technology to create new technology that is more efficient and competitive in order to reduce the cost and to increase added value of the products generated from renewable new energy industry.

“Additionally, various competencies and skills need to be prepared from basic education up to universities, hence excellent human resources will be available to support the energy transition,” he added.

Despite all the challenges, the Head of State expressed optimism that energy transition will open up a number of opportunities.

“Our capability to address the challenges of energy transition will open up new opportunities and job opportunities, increase the needs of skills in technology innovation and digitalization, and open up new economic opportunities, a green economy to speed up global recovery,” he said.

The President also expressed hope that the G20 can bridge and encourage developing and developed countries in G20 membership to accelerate energy transition process, to strengthen global energy system that is just and sustainable within a global agreement.

“Countries that bear a huge burden must be supported and provided with ease. Countries that are ready may take action first while supporting other countries that are not ready yet. We have to create more collaborations to ease access to affordable energy services, create technology innovation as well as funding breakthrough, and to formulate consistent and sustainable strategy,” he said.

He went on to say that the discussion can make breakthroughs to realize an ecosystem of just energy transition.

“I hope that this webinar will create notions that can be implemented to achieve a robust and focused global agreement to realize an ecosystem of just energy transition,” he remarked. (TGH/UN)(AW/HD/MUR)