Development of Renewable Energy Needs More Incentives

Jakarta (Antara) - General Chairman of the Renewable Energy Community (METI) Rachmat Gobel said development of new and renewable energy needs more incentives. The offer to invest in renewable energy projects failed to attract investors as the offer is not given with enough incentives, Rachmat said here on Monday. "Our oil reserves are dwindling fast and they are feared to be depleted in 22 years. "Therefore, development and conversion of renewable energy is no longer a choice but a must," he added. Rachmat, who was attending the opening ceremony of "APEC Conference on Clean, Renewable and Sustainable Use of Energy" (APCRES) in Bali, said it was unfortunate that the country's renewable energy projects failed to attract investors on incentives being not sufficient. Therefore, he hoped that APCRES which will last until Oct 2 would also discuss regulations and implementation of new and renewable energy . "Including innovation in the application of efficient and environmentally friendly technology," he said. He also hoped that Indonesia as a host takes the initiative in the plan to form the energy communication forum in the Asia Pacific region . The forum could have a permanent agenda held at the same time with APEC meeting with Indonesia as the first chairman, he said. "This is important for Indonesia, that renewable energy would no longer remain as a discourse, but would be a policy to be implemented," he said. (*)