PLTS Development, Indonesia Is Still Lagging Far From Countries In Southeast Asia

Director of Business Strategy & Portfolio PT Len Industri (Persero) Linus Andor M Sijabat. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Director of Business Strategy & Portfolio of PT Len Industri (Persero), Linus Andor M Sijabat said, Indonesia is still far behind compared to neighboring countries in Southeast Asia in terms of the development of solar power plants (PLTS).

"We (Indonesia) in the Southeast Asia Region are still the lowest, right. We are far behind (from Vietnam in terms of PLTS development)," said Linus Andor M Sijabat, quoted from Antara, Sunday, June 26. Linus gave an example, currently the capacity of PLTS is installed in Indonesia. still hundreds of megawatts while in Vietnam already has an installed capacity of PLTS reaching tens of gigawatts (GW).

Linus said, PT Len has a subsidiary that has very high product and service innovation in the downstream solar industry. In addition, PT Len is also the healthiest subsidiary with Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization are financial indicators for (see company profit) reached 22 percent. According to him, PT SEI has been actively building PLTS systems in the 3T area, one of which is by building solar-powered BTS Signal Towers in remote areas. for all 3T regions in Indonesia. "So it is complete, starting from the focus on upstreaming to downstream implementation that is beneficial to the community," he said. PLTS is one of the government's priority programs to achieve the target of developing new renewable energy (EBT) 23 percent in Indonesia. 2025. The potential of solar energy in Indonesia is very high and is starting to have a competitive price.

"Therefore, a synergy is needed between the Government as the regulator, PLN as the operator, the industry as a producer, and the community as consumers so that they can accelerate the utilization of solar energy potential as soon as possible," he said.

Some time ago, continued Linus, PT Surya Energi Indotama (PT SEI) became one of the companies targeted by Commission VII DPR RI to conduct a series of Working Visits to Commission VII DPR RI in charge of energy and industry.

This Specific Working Visit on Friday, June 24, 2022 is aimed at discussing the development of new renewable energy infrastructure, especially solar panels in Indonesia.

The discussion was attended by Members of Commission VII DPR RI led by Eddy Soeparno as Chair of Commission VII DPR RI, President Director of PT SEI Bambang Iswanto as host, Director of Mega Projects and New Renewable Energy PT PLN Wiluyo Kusdwiharto, Directorate of Various EBT ESDM Andriah Feby Misnam, Secretary of the Directorate General of ILMATE M. Arifin, Director of Metal Industry of the Ministry of Industry Liliek Widodo, and Director of Business Strategy & Portfolio of PT Len Industri (Persero) Linus Andor M Sijabat. This specific work visit aims to obtain information about PT SEI, the development of the solar panel industry in Indonesia, and an overview of the problems and obstacles faced. Member of Commission VII DPR RI Eddy Soeparno said his party wanted to directly know the support needed by PT SEI in the context of developing solar panel infrastructure in Indonesia, and to know the effectiveness of the government's role in overcoming community problems in the regions.

This goal is motivated by the fact that currently there are huge opportunities for domestic industries to develop business in the PLTS sector. However, production capacity in Indonesia is still long and expensive compared to other countries. Coupled with the not yet integrated components of the solar panel industry from upstream to downstream.

Upstream solar power industry is closely related to the processing of raw materials into solar panels as a whole. When these raw goods can be obtained and processed domestically, it will create TKDN value and reduce import activities.

"We have enormous potential to develop this solar energy renewable energy source. But don't let us import the components," he said.

Meanwhile, President Director of PT SEI Bambang Iswanto added that so far the company he leads has been a pioneer in solar panel companies in Indonesia for 14 years,

In addition to discussing upstreaming, PT SEI also emphasized that PLTS must be present as a solution in 3T (Outermost, Disadvantaged, Frontier) areas.

"This 3T area is our focus where the people there also have the right to get access to electricity, and PLTS can be a solution," said Bambang.