Indonesia optimistic on renewable energy

In the same week that PLN Director of Planning Bambang Praptomo announced no commitment to start nuclear energy procurement plans before 2018, the one-day World Renewable Energy Regional Congress in Jakarta on June 17 concluded with some optimism from Hilmi Panigoro, chairman of the Indonesian Renewable Energy Society. He said that the improving political climate for renewable energy led by President Barack Obama, who has brought the U.S. back into the climate change and green energy game, comes alongside stronger Indonesian government backing for renewable energy and new attitudes in PLN, the state-backed electricity utility. The first 10,000MW crash power program in Indonesia to respond to its energy crisis was dependent on coal-driven plants, but the second 10,000MW program stresses renewable energy especially geothermal. (June 21, 2009)