Bahlil Projects Kepri as an Industrial Hub of Technology through Exporting Clean Electricity to Singapore

JAKARTA - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said the government is projecting the Riau Islands as a center for technology industries connected to plans to export clean electricity to Singapore.

According to Bahlil, the government not only sees electricity exports as energy trade, but also as a strategy to attract high-tech industrial investment to Indonesia.

Through this step, the government wants to utilize the availability of green energy to encourage global companies to build production facilities and technology centers in the Batam, Bintan, and Karimun areas.

Thus, the Batam, Bintan, and Karimun (BBK) areas are expected to develop into a new green industrial center in Indonesia.

"I have received reports that the industrial area is almost final. Later we will build in the Kepri area. And I am clearing this again. If it is completed, then I think this is one of the advances in preparation," said Bahlil in an official statement, Sunday, March 15.

He explained that the electricity to be exported will come from the Solar Power Plant as part of the national electricity development program of 100 gigawatt (GW).

The program is designed to meet domestic electricity needs while opening up opportunities for clean energy exports to neighboring countries.

However, Bahlil admitted that there were still challenges in the development of green energy, especially in terms of production costs, which are currently still higher than fossil-based energy.

On that occasion, Bahlil also attended a meeting with the Minister of Manpower and Energy in charge of Singapore Tan See Leng in Tokyo, Japan on Sunday local time.

Tan See Leng is said to welcome the development of discussions related to energy cooperation between the two countries.

In addition to green electricity exports, both parties also discussed opportunities for the development of sustainable industrial areas in the Batam, Bintan, and Karimun regions.

The Indonesian government has also prepared a scheme so that domestic electricity needs are still prioritized before energy exports are carried out.

On the other hand, cooperation is also open in the development of low-carbon technologies, including Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology.

"Regarding CCS, I have prepared the rules. Then we can collaborate," said Bahlil.