Coordinating Minister Airlangga Affirms Commitment To Indonesia's Energy Transition To Achieve Net Zero Emission Targets At The 2nd AZEC Summit

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto.(ekon.go.id)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, represented President Joko Widodo at the 2nd Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Summit in Vientiane, Laos, Friday (11/10). This meeting took place in conjunction with the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits, with a main focus on sustainable energy transitions in the region.

AZEC, Japan's initiative, aims to support a just, affordable and inclusive energy transition. Since its introduction at the G20 Summit in Bali in 2022, AZEC now consists of 11 countries, including Indonesia, Japan, Australia, and other ASEAN countries.

Coordinating Minister Airlangga appreciated Japan's role in directing the area towards zero emissions. "Indonesia welcomes the collaboration in AZEC, especially by hosting the AZEC Ministerial Meeting in August 2024 which resulted in many strategic projects," said Airlangga Hartarto as quoted from the website of the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy Tuesday, October 15.

During the meeting, Airlangga also met with Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Saito Ken, and the Chairman of the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC), Tadashi Maeda, to discuss the development of strategic projects.

Coordinating Minister Airlangga emphasized that Indonesia has formed an AZEC Expert Group to accelerate project implementation and design roadmaps for net zero emissions. Some of the projects that have been running include the Geothermal Project Phase 2 in Muara Laboh, Waste to Energy in Legok Nangka, and the Kayan Phase I hydropower plant.

Airlangga also emphasized Indonesia's commitment to energy transition through the development of renewable energy, especially solar, water, and geothermal power, as well as the gradual reduction of coal-based power plants. Indonesia is also working on building a super grid, developing CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage) technology, and exploring new energy sources such as hydrogen and Small Modular Reactor (SMR).

"Indonesia is ready to cooperate with Japan and invite the private sector to participate in this strategic project, in order to create an inclusive and sustainable economy in the ASEAN region," Airlangga concluded.

Also attending to accompany Coordinating Minister Airlangga were the Secretary of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, the Deputy for the Ministry of Investment, and the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.