Dino: Prabowo's 100 GW clean energy target realistic if China's example followed

Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) founder Dino Patti Djalal believes President Prabowo Subianto’s plan to build 100 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy capacity within two years is realistic, pointing to China’s ability to produce 250 GW in just six months. “What President Prabowo wants, 100 GW in these few years, is actually not too difficult. Because if we look at China, in six months they produced 250 gigawatts,” Dino said in a special interview with ANTARA in Jakarta on Monday.

Despite his optimism, Dino cautioned that achieving the target depends heavily on the existence of a successful pilot project before nationwide expansion. He noted that the plan to build solar power plants (PLTS) across 52,000 villages, each with a one-hectare land allocation, requires solid coordination between ministries, including the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Villages, and the National Land Agency.

Dino also highlighted that the initial phase of 17 GW of solar power plant construction, set to begin this year by state electricity firm PLN, could be realised if supported by proper funding, inter-ministerial coordination, clear leadership, and sustainable execution to avoid the pitfalls of past projects. “Most importantly, there must be no corruption. The free meals programme had corruption, motorcycle procurement had corruption… it turns out these became money-making projects. The idea is good, but the implementation has many governance problems. This must be safeguarded,” he asserted, adding that investor confidence hinges on good governance.

Furthermore, Dino assessed that Indonesia remains reactive rather than preventive in facing the climate crisis. He urged the government to incorporate climate education into the national curriculum to build early awareness and develop a preventive mindset. He also called on the younger generation to take concrete action, stating that the current generation is the last one with the opportunity to save the Earth. He described the 2020-2030 period as a crucial window to transition to low-carbon development to keep the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius alive.

President Prabowo Subianto previously announced the government’s plan to build solar power plants with a total capacity of 100 GW within two years during an event in Karawang, West Java, on 9 July. He explained that the initiative is part of Indonesia’s strategy to achieve energy self-sufficiency while reducing carbon emissions, with PLN commencing the construction of 17 GW of solar power capacity this year. FPCI will host the Indonesia Net Zero Summit (INZS) 2026 on 1 August in Jakarta, aiming to elevate climate action as a national priority and position Indonesia as an active and influential player in shaping the regional and global climate agenda.