Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Institute for Essential Services Reform\n(IESlar) has stated that the government needs to accelerate the issuance\nof regulations regarding AI safeguards and data centres, making\nenvironmental, social, and energy standards a prerequisite for\nlicensing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout national standards, every project is assessed on a\ncase-by-case basis, and oversight depends on the initiative of regional\nheads,\u201d said IESR Chief Executive Officer Fabby Tumiwa when confirmed in\nJakarta on Friday.<\/p>\n
According to him, the halting of a data centre project in Jatiluhur,\nWest Java, demonstrates that Indonesia does not yet have adequate rules\nof engagement to face the wave of investment in data centres and AI.<\/p>\n
In May, the Ministry of Communication and Digital estimated that\nIndonesia\u2019s electricity demand for data centres could reach more than 2\nGW by 2029. Meanwhile, PLN estimates that electricity demand for data\ncentres could reach 25 GW by 2035.<\/p>\n
For this reason, IESR is urging the central government\u2014specifically\nthe Ministry of Communication and Digital, the Ministry of Energy and\nMineral Resources, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Public\nWorks, and the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs\u2014to take\naction.<\/p>\n
This includes the immediate issuance of AI and data centre safeguard\nregulations that make environmental, social, and energy standards a\ncondition for permits.<\/p>\n
\u201cMandating all data centres in Indonesia to use waterless cooling\nsystems or closed-loop circulation, so they do not compete with the\nneeds of drinking water and agriculture,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Additionally, IESR is urging the government to set a Power Usage\nEffectiveness (PUE) efficiency limit below 1.3 and establish IT\nequipment efficiency standards that can reduce energy consumption for\nall data centres.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the government needs to mandate that data centres use\nrenewable energy directly, at a minimum of 35 per cent by 2030 and 50\nper cent by 2040, through on-site generation or renewable energy power\npurchase agreements, rather than merely relying on certificates.<\/p>\n
This obligation, according to Tumiwa, is in line with the direction\nof the National Energy Policy (PP 40\/2025), which targets a new and\nrenewable energy mix of 36-40 per cent by 2040. As a new sector with\nhigh energy demand and strong capital, data centres should achieve this\nearlier, rather than burdening the achievement of national targets.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndonesia wants to become a data centre hub in the region. That is\nan opportunity, but only if the data centres built are water-efficient,\nefficient, and powered by renewable energy. If not, we will bear the\nemissions and water crisis to serve global computing demand. The\ngovernment needs to move quickly before dozens of similar projects are\nlocked in with low standards,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
IESR stands ready to support the central and regional governments in\ndrafting green data centre standards that protect the community, the\nenvironment, and the climate.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/iesr-government-needs-to-issue-regulations-regarding-data-centres-1790959999", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }