APEC- Indonesia to Boost Renewable Energy Technology Cooperation

Nusa Dua, Bali (Antara) - Indonesia will encourage cooperation in the renewable energy technology among members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APECT), Marzan A Iskandar of the Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) said. "Indonesia has big renewable energy potential. What remains to be done is to combine it with command of technology," Marzan stated here on Tuesday. Developing countries like Indonesia own abundant energy resources. But this potential has not yet been maximally tapped because of their command of technology which was still far from that of developed nations, he asserted. He continued that Indonesia had big geothermal energy potential as a source of renewable energy, reaching 29 thousand megawatts. "Of the potential, only about 1,343 megawatts have been exploited," he pointed out. Geothermal is viewed to be one of the solutions to overcome Indonesia's need for energy because it has a stable capacity for a time span of 20 to 30 years. He predicted that there would be an increase by at least five percent in the development of renewable energy up to 2025. The government has set itself a target of 17 percent increase in renewable energy development up to 2025 as suggested by Presidential Regulation No. 5 / 2006. "We can achieve the target with a strong commitment and policy," he stressed. (*)