Renewable Energy Business Provides New Momentum to RI – Portugal Relations
Oleh PSO AntaraSelasa, 01 Mei 2012 | 16:29
Jakarta, Infopublik - After 501 years of contact and 10 years of normalization after Timor Leste`s referendum in 1999, it is time for Indonesia and Portugal to renew their relations in a peaceful and mutually beneficial manner. What better way to forge beneficial relations than to start a business together? Portuguese Ambassador to Indonesia Carlos Manuel Leiato Frota stated that Indonesia and Portugal could develop cooperation in the renewable energy business. "Portugal has experience in developing wind energy, and we can share the technology with Indonesia. Relations between the heads of state of the two countries have been good. This is the time to increase business-to-business and people-to-people relations between Indonesia and Portugal," Frota remarked.
According to the European Wind Energy Association, fuel imports once constituted around half of Portugal`s trade deficit. From around 2000 onwards, the country decided to shift its focus to indigenous, renewable sources of energy to reduce this deficit. In 2005, Portugal set a wind energy target of 5,100 MW to be achieved by 2013. In 2005, the government began inviting tenders pertaining to grid connections for wind energy projects while offering a feed-in tariff to ensure investor stability. "Wind farms are typically located in less developed areas and are a means of income for those renting out their land to the developers," explained Gabriel Nebreda from Portugal`s major electricity operator EDP (Energia de Portugal). Currently Portugal has stated its aim to attain 6,900 MW of wind energy capacity by 2020. This would provide 23 percent of Portugal`s electricity requirement. In view of Portugal`s success in developing wind energy to gradually reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, developing a renewable energy business between Portugal and Indonesia appears to offer a solution for Indonesia`s energy problem, which seems similar to Portugal`s erstwhile situation. Kardaya Warnika from the Indonesian Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry had earlier announced that the country will soon develop renewable energy sources to replace the country`s diminishing oil reserves. "Indonesia has oil reserves of about 4 billion barrels, and it is estimated this will run out within the next 11 years. Therefore, we need to develop renewable energy as soon as possible," he declared.
Officials note that renewable energy sources can solve the energy crisis and help maintain energy resilience. Currently, the nation receives up to 95 percent of its energy supply from fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal. Renewable energy sources are attractive because they are environment-friendly, inexhaustible and domestically available. "Investment in oil and gas would require billions of US dollars, while renewable energy needs only billions of rupiahs," Kardaya pointed out. The government hopes that the development of renewable energy will cover 25 percent of the nation`s energy requirements by 2025. However, according to Kardaya, subsidies are a factor hampering the development of renewable energy. The ministry is currently developing 100 MW of solar power energy (PLTS) and 50 MW of wind power energy. While the ministry is still looking for a suitable location for the PLTS development, it plans to build a wind-powered energy plant in Yogyakarta. However, Qoyum Tjandranegara of the Committee of the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Body (BPH Migas) observed that the low prices of domestic fuel oils are responsible for the poor development of new and renewable energy sources in Indonesia. The country`s dependence on fossil-based energy currently constitutes 97 percent of its overall energy consumption, Satya Yudha remarked. "Only 3 percent originates from new and renewable energy. It`s time to switch to new and renewable energy," he added. Portugal made first contact with Indonesia in 1511, when Portuguese sailors searching for valuable spices arrived in Malacca. However, official diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Portugal were initiated in 1974, with the establishment of the Indonesian Embassy in Lisbon. In 1975, these relations became agitated due to disagreements over the East Timor (now Timor Leste) referendum. However, diplomatic relations between the two countries have gradually reverted to normal after Timor Leste`s referendum in 1999. (PSO Antara/L.vi)
According to the European Wind Energy Association, fuel imports once constituted around half of Portugal`s trade deficit. From around 2000 onwards, the country decided to shift its focus to indigenous, renewable sources of energy to reduce this deficit. In 2005, Portugal set a wind energy target of 5,100 MW to be achieved by 2013. In 2005, the government began inviting tenders pertaining to grid connections for wind energy projects while offering a feed-in tariff to ensure investor stability. "Wind farms are typically located in less developed areas and are a means of income for those renting out their land to the developers," explained Gabriel Nebreda from Portugal`s major electricity operator EDP (Energia de Portugal). Currently Portugal has stated its aim to attain 6,900 MW of wind energy capacity by 2020. This would provide 23 percent of Portugal`s electricity requirement. In view of Portugal`s success in developing wind energy to gradually reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, developing a renewable energy business between Portugal and Indonesia appears to offer a solution for Indonesia`s energy problem, which seems similar to Portugal`s erstwhile situation. Kardaya Warnika from the Indonesian Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry had earlier announced that the country will soon develop renewable energy sources to replace the country`s diminishing oil reserves. "Indonesia has oil reserves of about 4 billion barrels, and it is estimated this will run out within the next 11 years. Therefore, we need to develop renewable energy as soon as possible," he declared.
Officials note that renewable energy sources can solve the energy crisis and help maintain energy resilience. Currently, the nation receives up to 95 percent of its energy supply from fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal. Renewable energy sources are attractive because they are environment-friendly, inexhaustible and domestically available. "Investment in oil and gas would require billions of US dollars, while renewable energy needs only billions of rupiahs," Kardaya pointed out. The government hopes that the development of renewable energy will cover 25 percent of the nation`s energy requirements by 2025. However, according to Kardaya, subsidies are a factor hampering the development of renewable energy. The ministry is currently developing 100 MW of solar power energy (PLTS) and 50 MW of wind power energy. While the ministry is still looking for a suitable location for the PLTS development, it plans to build a wind-powered energy plant in Yogyakarta. However, Qoyum Tjandranegara of the Committee of the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Body (BPH Migas) observed that the low prices of domestic fuel oils are responsible for the poor development of new and renewable energy sources in Indonesia. The country`s dependence on fossil-based energy currently constitutes 97 percent of its overall energy consumption, Satya Yudha remarked. "Only 3 percent originates from new and renewable energy. It`s time to switch to new and renewable energy," he added. Portugal made first contact with Indonesia in 1511, when Portuguese sailors searching for valuable spices arrived in Malacca. However, official diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Portugal were initiated in 1974, with the establishment of the Indonesian Embassy in Lisbon. In 1975, these relations became agitated due to disagreements over the East Timor (now Timor Leste) referendum. However, diplomatic relations between the two countries have gradually reverted to normal after Timor Leste`s referendum in 1999. (PSO Antara/L.vi)
Berita Terkini
[Indeks]
Jum'at, 24 Mei 2013 | 19:57
BNP2TKI Tingkatkan TKI Formal ke Mancanegara
Bogor, InfoPublik - Badan Nasional Penempatan dan Perlindungan Tenaga Kerja Indonesia (BNP2TKI) terus berupaya meningkatkan penempatan TKI formal berbasis kompetensi dan uji kompetensi ke mancanegara. Salah satu upaya menggelar Workshop Sumber-Sumber Pendanaan Harmonisasi Kompetensi dengan tema Penempatan TKI ke Luar Negeri harus Berbasis Kompetensi.
Berita Populer
[Indeks]
Jabar Terbaik Hasil UN SMA, 1 Siswa Tidak Lulus
Jakarta, InfoPublik - Menteri Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Mohammad Nuh merilis data angka-angka ketidaklulusan Ujian Nasional (UN) siswa tingkat SMA untuk tahun ajaran 2012/2013.