Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA) \u2013 The Bali Provincial Government is confident\nthat the island can achieve net-zero carbon emissions before 2045.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt does not have to be 2045; I think it could be achieved by 2040,\u201d\nBali Governor Wayan Koster said at Bali Climate Week 2026 in Denpasar on\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Koster said his confidence was based on the provincial government\u2019s\nprogressive steps. Bali has reached an agreement with the Ministry of\nEnergy and Mineral Resources and state electricity company PLN to stop\nadditional electricity supplies from the Paiton coal-fired power plant\nin East Java and shift entirely to clean energy.<\/p>\n
Bali\u2019s electricity transition is expected to be supported by the\nphased construction of 1,550 megawatts of gas-fired power capacity from\nthis year through 2031, alongside widespread use of solar power\nplants.<\/p>\n
Fossil-fuel power plants, including coal and diesel facilities, are\nto be phased out, with their operation due to end within five years at\nthe latest.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the gas-fired power plants are built by 2031, and solar power\nplants have now been allocated a quota of 1,000 megawatts by the\nPresident, then all energy in Bali will come from environmentally\nfriendly sources: solar and gas,\u201d Koster said.<\/p>\n
The energy transition is also being accelerated through regional\nregulations requiring rooftop solar panels as a mandatory condition for\nobtaining building approval (PBG).<\/p>\n
The provincial government, together with regents and mayors, has\nagreed that permits for new buildings will not be issued unless\napplicants implement solar power, electric vehicles, a ban on single-use\nplastics and waste management at source.<\/p>\n
Alongside changes to electricity generation, Koster is also promoting\na major drive to use battery-electric vehicles to reduce emissions\nsharply in the near future.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the use of electric vehicles being stepped up further, 90 per\ncent of emissions from coal and oil will decline more quickly,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Koster said he was undeterred by pressure or obstacles from parties\nwhose interests were affected by the energy transformation policy.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to be prepared to be bullied. Being bullied is part of what\na leader has to accept, so it is all right,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Suzanty Sitorus, steering committee member of the Bali Emissions Zero\nCoalition, said the island\u2019s target of achieving net-zero emissions\nahead of 2045 was entirely realistic.<\/p>\n
She said battery-electric vehicles currently account for 17 per cent\nof new vehicle sales in Indonesia. Adoption has already surpassed the\nlevel in the United States, although it remains below that of several\nneighbouring ASEAN countries.<\/p>\n
Sitorus identified two main factors that could help Bali reach its\naccelerated net-zero target. The first is a surge in petrol prices,\nwhich has caused long queues and congestion and is prompting people to\nswitch naturally to electric vehicles.<\/p>\n
The second is Bali\u2019s geography as an island, which is more conducive\nto developing public electric-vehicle charging stations (SPKLU).<\/p>\n
Experts in the coalition say charging facilities using a range of\ntechnologies suited to specific needs should therefore continue to be\ndeveloped.<\/p>\n
Sitorus also stressed that the electric-vehicle ecosystem must be\nexpanded across public transport, including electric buses and\ntwo-wheelers, as well as logistics.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are also optimistic that the target is very achievable if the\nfocus and the plans currently under way are continued,\u201d she said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bali-provincial-government-confident-of-reaching-net-zero-before-2045-1791910382", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }