JAKARTA \u2013 The President Director of PT PLN (Persero), Darmawan\nPrasodjo, has stressed that the national electricity policy is focused\non strengthening energy resilience, rather than merely transitioning\nfrom fossil fuels to renewable energy. Darmawan stated that this\nstrategy is implemented through the 2025\u20132034 Electricity Supply\nBusiness Plan (RUPTL), which emphasises shifting from import-based\nenergy to domestic-based energy, while maintaining electricity\naffordability.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this regard, particularly how Indonesia\u2019s national electricity\nsystem can reduce the use of BBM (fuel oil). This is the main topic in\naccelerating the energy transition, not just shifting from fossil to\nrenewable energy, but more importantly, energy independence, energy\nself-sufficiency, energy security,\u201d said the PLN CEO during a working\nmeeting with Commission VII of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) at\nthe Parliamentary Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday\n(13\/4\/2026).<\/p>\n
Darmawan explained that the policy direction aligns with President\nPrabowo Subianto\u2019s instructions to strengthen national energy\nindependence through the utilisation of domestic resources. In the RUPTL\n2025\u20132034, PLN plans to add 69.5 gigawatts of generating capacity. As\nmuch as 76 percent comes from new and renewable energy, ranging from\nsolar, wind, hydro, geothermal, to nuclear with an initial capacity of\n500 megawatts.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst, we are increasing our energy resilience or achieving our\nenergy security. Of course, we must provide affordable energy and at the\nsame time, we are also shifting from fossil-based with import components\nto renewable-based that is domestic-based,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The development of renewable energy faces geographical challenges,\nparticularly the mismatch between energy source locations and\nelectricity demand centres. This condition requires the electricity\nsystem to have large-scale transmission infrastructure. To address this\nchallenge, PLN is preparing the construction of the Green Enabling\nSupergrid spanning around 48,000 kilometres of transmission circuits to\nchannel electricity from remote areas to load centres.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn implementing this energy transition, there is a challenge, namely\nthe mismatch between the locations of renewable energy potential and the\ndemand centres,\u201d said Darmawan.<\/p>\n
PLN is also developing large-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems\n(BESS) to support the integration of renewable energy. The decline in\nthe cost of this technology over the past two years has made its\neconomics increasingly competitive. As of March 2026, PLN recorded that\nthe national electricity system is in normal condition. Net installed\ncapacity reaches 71 gigawatts with a reserve margin of around 39\npercent, so the electricity supply is considered reliable.<\/p>\n
\u201cNet installed capacity of 71 gigawatts, reserve margin of around 39\npercent, so the national electricity supply is in reliable condition,\u201d\nsaid Darmawan.<\/p>\n
On the primary energy supply side, gas reserves for power plants have\nan average operating days of around 12 days. Coal stocks are also in\nsafe condition with operating days reaching 15.9 days. PLN continues to\naccelerate the execution of projects in the RUPTL. Of the total 547\npriority projects, 353 projects are in the procurement stage, 156\nprojects are under construction, and the rest have entered the\ncommissioning stage as of March 2026.<\/p>\n
Efforts to strengthen energy resilience are also carried out through\nreducing BBM consumption in diesel power plants. PLN targets reductions\nat 741 locations with a total of 2,139 diesel engines through the\nutilisation of renewable energy. In the first semester of 2026, PLN is\npreparing 21 solar power plant (PLTS) projects, including those\nintegrated with energy storage systems, for immediate execution. This\nstep is aimed at suppressing energy costs while reducing import\ndependence.<\/p>\n
PLN is also preparing to launch the Giga One bundling project or\nGreen Integrated Gigawatt Acceleration programme starting in 2026. This\nprogramme is aimed at strengthening the electricity system\u2019s resilience\nwhile increasing the share of new renewable energy. This step is\nexpected to lower the cost of electricity production and strengthen the\nattractiveness of green energy-based investments. This strategy is part\nof long-term efforts to build national energy independence.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/more-than-just-transition-pln-pursues-energy-independence-1776084673", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }