VIDEO: Utilization Of Green Energy Accompanied By The Growth Of New Industrial Areas

Surya Dharma, Chairman of the Indonesian Renewable Energy Society. (Special Photo)

JAKARTA – The use of green energy should be accompanied by the growth of new economic zones in areas not far from the source of energy exploitation. The development of a hydropower plant, for example, is accompanied by the opening of an industrial area that can absorb the energy it produces.

This was stated by Surya Dharma, Chair of the Indonesian Renewable Energy Society (METI), making the most ideal hydropower plant outside Java because the land still exists. Like the plan to build a hydropower plant by PT Kayan Hydro Energy, it is followed by creating a new economic and industrial area. For example, what happened in the Kayan River, North Kalimantan, by combining hydropower and the construction of an industrial area around it. "The one on the Kayan river is good because it grows a new economic and industrial area," he said.

Economic growth and energy must go hand in hand, especially green and renewable energy. “New breakthroughs must be made so that Indonesia is the largest from a country that is predicated as a middle income trap. Even if you are not careful, Indonesia is not increasing but sinking. This is something to watch out for,” he continued.

What must be done is to create new economic and industrial zones along with the exploitation of green energy outside Java so that economic growth will be evenly distributed. “Creating a new economic and industrial area, don't think about it in Karawang, Karawaci or other areas of Java. Because the source of energy does not exist. In the end, they will use fossil energy again. If you want to create an area that is close to an area that has renewable energy," he said.