Minister Of Energy And Mineral Resources Says ASEAN Has Very Large Renewable Energy Sources

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif said the ASEAN region has a very large renewable energy source (ET).

"We have the potential for 17 thousand tons to be used as capital in achieving the net zero emission (NZE) target and utilizing clean energy," said Arifin Tasrief as quoted by Antara, Sunday, May 28.

Regarding efforts to encourage the energy transition to reach NZE, ASEAN already has an ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC).

The short-term target is that the portion of ET in the energy mix reaches 23 percent, while the portion of the generating capacity is 35 percent in 2025.

Arifin said the medium-term target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in each ASEAN country according to the national determined contributions by 2030, and the long-term NZE target by 2050.

He added that Indonesia would encourage all ASEAN members to declare the NZE target at the 41st ASEAN Minister on Energy Meeting in August 2023.

The sustainable energy transition is one of the concerns in the discussion of the ASEAN Summit 2023 Summit 9-11 May in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara. As a follow-up, the ASEAN Ministers of Energy Meeting (AMEM) will be held which will take place on May 17, 2023.

The meeting is a forum for ASEAN to exchange experiences on promotion and use of sustainable energy through regional cooperation. In the chairmanship of ASEAN 2023, Indonesia pays attention to the issue of energy transition to achieve sustainable energy resilience.

Previously, this commitment had been conveyed by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif at the event of the start of ASEAN chairmanship in the energy sector on March 31, 2023. This priority will be carried out through two pillars of the program, namely the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) and Trans-ASEAn Gas Pipeline (TAGP).

The other four pillars are Coal and Clean Coal Technology, Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Renewable Energy, Regional Energy Policy and Planning, and Civilian Nuclear Energy.

Pertamina's energy transition

In order to smooth the energy transition, the role of oil and natural gas is still needed.

According to 7th ASEAN Energy Outlook (AEO7), oil and gas is an industry with established technology and supply chains that can support energy transitions.

Gas, for example, plays an important role because its supply is still stable and its energy is low.

In Indonesia, Pertamina as a company engaged in the energy sector is also trying to support the government's plan to realize the NZE target.

Pertamina Director Nicke Widyawati said that her party would actively contribute to achieving the goals and priorities of ASEAN 2023.

Regarding the energy transition, citing the study of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) 2022, Pertamina in June 2021 set a target of reducing oil-based fuels by 64 percent by 2023.

In addition, increasing the mix of natural gas and renewable energy where 19 percent and 17 percent respectively in the same year.

To secure gas production, the company's subsidiary, Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE), is trying to increase production.

In 2022, PHE recorded gas production of 2,600 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD). This production exceeds the production target of 6 percent.

In improving performance, PHE is aggressive in exploring to achieve national energy resilience.

PHE Exploration Director Muharram Jaya Panguriseng said the discovery of new sources could maintain and increase oil and gas production in the long term.

In addition, the acquisition of potential sources such as the Masela Block can increase the national gas supply.