Indonesia steps up bio-energy development

The Indonesian government is planning to issue a new rule to maximize the usage and production of renewable energy, including bio-energy, as an alternative to fossil fuels.
Rida Mulyana, director general for renewable energy and energy conservation in the Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, said under the new rule the management of bio-fuel and biodiesel production activities will be handed over to the directorate general of renewable energy and energy conservation. This is currently the responsibility of the Ministry’s oil and gas directorate general. The new rule will replace the ministry’s existing 2008 regulation on bio-fuel.
The state will enhance management for domestic companies’ bio-ethanol production in order to further promote bio-energy development in the country, Mulyana added.
Data provided by Indonesia’s National Energy Council (DEN) showed that the country still relies on oil to meet 44% of its energy needs, while gas accounts for 23%, coal 27%, and renewable energy only 6 %.
In its long-term energy development strategy, projecting to 2050, the Indonesian government set a target of changing the proportion to 30% for renewable energy, 26% for coal, 24% for natural gas and 20% for oil.
(August 7, 2013)