Govt to prioritize energy research<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government will spend much of the budget allocated for
\nresearch and development over the coming 20 years on developing
\nnew rice varieties and alternative energy resources.<\/p>\n
The secretary of the Office of the State Minister for Research
\nand Technology Ashwin Sasongko said on Friday that focusing
\nresearch on these two areas would improve the country's food
\nsecurity and avoid a possible energy crisis in the future.<\/p>\n
\"These choices are highly pertinent as we have seen how East
\nNusa Tenggara and East Java are facing food shortages due to crop
\nfailures inflicted by the long dry season. In addition, our oil
\nreserves are decreasing,\" Ashwin said.<\/p>\n
The National Atomic Energy Agency (BATAN) is developing a new
\nvariety of rice that can withstand drought and produce greater
\nyields.<\/p>\n
Ashwin said that success in inventing a new, high-yielding
\nvariety would help the country achieve self-sufficiency in the
\nfood sector in the next few years.<\/p>\n
Bambang Prasetyo, an assistant to the deputy state minister
\nfor research, said his office was working together with the
\nMinistry of Agriculture to formulate specific programs, such as a
\nbiotechnology development program to support the food security
\nprogram.<\/p>\n
\"We will launch a pilot project with the help of the Ministry
\nof Agriculture. The project itself is expected to start in 2005.
\nWe are still working on the details at the moment,\" said Bambang.<\/p>\n
He added that Indonesia's oil and gas reserves were
\ndiminishing rapidly, and according to BP Migas would only last
\nfor another 20 years.<\/p>\n
Bambang said that the office of the state minister was also
\nworking together with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral
\nResources to encourage the use of brown coal as an alternative
\nenergy resource.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has abundant supplies of brown coal, especially in
\nSumatra. However, brown coal needs processing before it can be
\nused.<\/p>\n
Apart from brown coal, Bambang said that the office of the
\nstate ministry would collaborate with other state research and
\ntechnology institutions in developing biodiesel technology.<\/p>\n
Research and development priorities would be discussed during
\na two-day meeting on Monday and Tuesday.<\/p>\n
With a total budget of Rp 900 billion (US$107 million) to be
\nspent on research and technology per year, Ashwin said Indonesia
\nwould focus on food and energy development.<\/p>\n
\"Our neighbors, such as Singapore and Malaysia, allocate
\napproximately 1 to 2 percent of their Gross Domestic Products
\n(GDP) on technology and research, while we only put aside 0.18
\npercent,\" said Ashwin.<\/p>\n
Therefore, Ashwin urged the government to pay more attention
\nto scientific and technological development in the country.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-to-prioritize-energy-research-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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