Prabowo Pushes to Accelerate the Development of 100 GW of PLTS, Intention to Retire PLTD

PLTS (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto has encouraged the development of 100 Giga Watt (GW) of Solar Power Plants (PLTS). In line with this development, the government will also accelerate the shutdown of diesel power plants (PLTD).

"The government will accelerate the closure of diesel power plants and replace them with solar power plants," said Prabowo in the Government's Introduction/Explanation of the Bill on the 2027 Budget Year APBN along with the Financial Note and supporting documents, Friday, August 14.

In the initial phase, Prabowo said the government would target the construction of 30 gigawatt of PLTS while stopping 13 gigawatt of diesel power plant capacity in 2026.

According to him, Indonesia has abundant solar heat potential throughout the year. He assessed that this condition is an advantage that must be utilized to reduce dependence on fuel oil, especially in remote and island areas.

"It doesn't make sense that we have to wait for remote islands to bring solar fuel to get electricity. The economic costs are too inefficient," continued Prabowo.

He added that in the future, the idal scheme to be implemented is to build 1 MW of PLTS in each village so that it can build energy independence while reducing the cost of providing electricity in remote areas.

"Ideally, every village can have 1 megawatt of PLTS. This is ideal. If the village wants to prepare the land, we can assure them that they can get 1 megawatt PLTS 1 village," he explained.

In fact, he continued, he said that Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto had calculated that the capacity of the 100 GW PLTS could save at least IDR 73.9 trillion every year through a reduction in the cost of electricity production.

"Not to mention if we don't import fuel from abroad anymore. With 100 GW of import needs, we will reduce a lot and we can save a lot of foreign exchange," said Prabowo.