PLN Gandeng USAID Accelerates Energy Transition In Indonesia

Photo: Doc. Antara

PT PLN (Persero) strengthens collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in accelerating the energy transition in Indonesia through various supporting initiatives to develop renewable energy to modernize the electricity system.

This was marked by the signing of the continuation of the Reference Framework (KAK) with USAID at the PLN Headquarters, Jakarta, last Wednesday, July 10.

The Director of Electricity Program Development of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Wanhar in his statement in Jakarta, Saturday, July 13, said that the USAID cooperation program that has been going on so far has contributed significantly to the development of the electricity sector, one of which is through the Sustainable Energy for Indonesia's Advancing Resilience (SINAR) program.

"Thank you USAID for being flexible in accepting and accommodating programs that are a priority from both the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and PLN. Hopefully, the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the evaluation of the SINAR program can be carried out in a technical and administrative manner. It is hoped that the SINAR program can continue," said Wanhar, as reported by Antara.

Director of Corporate Planning and Business Development of PLN Hartanto Wibowo explained that collaboration between USAID and PLN will continue with six main objectives, namely supporting the development of programs and roadmaps for transitioning energy, accelerating the implementation of renewable energy systems, improving organizational structures through line arrangement.

Furthermore, modernization of operational procedures for increasing work, supporting PLN with joint collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources regarding the implementation of energy transition, and supporting PLN in supporting gender equality programs and social inclusion.

"I hope that together we can collaborate to make this program a success so as to create high PLN value creation," said Hartanto.

Meanwhile, PLN's Legal and Human Capital Management Director Yusuf Didi Setiarto said that the SINAR program is substantial and provides real added value for Indonesia and PLN.

The collaboration between USAID and PLN is a continuation of the previous initiative which was signed on August 3, 2022, where USAID has supported PLN in developing decarbonization scenarios and increasing investment in renewable energy.

"We also hope that what has been running at PLN can be maximally implemented. From this collaboration, of course, PLN will not only gain knowledge but rather acquire technology, and increase upgrading human resources," said Didi.

Meanwhile, USAID Indonesia's Director of Environment Brian Dusza said the partnership between the United States, Indonesia and PLN had been around for a long time. He believes that the collaboration between the two will have a major impact on the energy transition program for Indonesia's greener and inclusive future.

"The United States is proud to partner with Indonesia and PLN to develop the role of sustainable energy in the transition of the energy sector in Indonesia," said Brian.