Launch Bali Statement, Minister Of Energy And Mineral Resources Reveals Hydro Power Is The Backbone

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

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif together with the International Hydropower Association (IHA) launched the Bali Statement at the COP 28 event in Dubai.

In his remarks, Arifin said that currently most of the potential hydropower plants that have not been utilized are in developing countries. Bali Statement provides four recommendations to the Government around the world.

"First, planning future energy needs with more renewable energy variables. Second, providing incentives for sustainable hydropower through financial and market-based mechanisms," said Arifin in an official statement, Monday, November 4.

The third, he added, accelerates the development of renewable energy through a transparent and efficient licensing process. Then the last is to include the practice of hydropower sustainability into the regulations and obligations of the financial sector.

Then, Arifin said that hydro power plays an important role in energy systems around the world.

In line with the Paris Agreement's commitment, the IEA in COP27 states that hydropower also prevents emissions of around 3 gigatons (GT) of CO2 per year, representing about 9 percent of global annual CO2 emissions.

In Indonesia, he said, hydropower has made a significant contribution to the provision of affordable access to electricity, as well as strengthening water management and preserving water catchment areas in Indonesia's energy system for the past century.

"Indonesia has the potential for hydro power of more than 95 gigawatts (GW), although its utilization has only reached 7 GW. In line with Bali Statement, Indonesia hopes to strengthen collaboration and cooperation in utilizing this great potential. Not only limited to hydro resources, but also potential that has not been explored from the surface area of the dam that can be utilized for Floating PLTS," he said.

Arifin also said that Indonesia had just inaugurated the Cirata Floating PLTS with a capacity of 192 MWp, the largest in Southeast Asia. This PLTS is built on a 200 hectare dam that has a hydropower capacity of 1 GW.

Currently, Indonesia is also developing a pump storage facility with a total capacity of 4x260MW at the Upper Cisokan hydropower plant, West Java. Furthermore, with hydro power development, it is hoped that it can produce environmentally friendly electricity, improve the stability of the electricity grid, and contribute to forming a sustainable energy future for future generations. To achieve this, inclusive collaboration is needed in hydropower development.