Energy Ministry records 93 hydrogen ecosystem projects worth Rp32 trillion

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has recorded 93 hydrogen ecosystem development initiatives with an investment value reaching Rp32 trillion. Director General of New, Renewable Energy, and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) Eniya Listiani Dewi stated that these projects align with the ESDM Minister’s directive to implement dedieselisation concepts. “For example, in Sumba, we expect commercial operation by 2028,” Eniya said during the Global Hydrogen Ecosystem Summit & Exhibition 2026 in Jakarta on Tuesday.

She also highlighted a project on Rengit Island, developed in collaboration with PLN, as part of the government’s effort to prove the concept of using solar power plants in remote areas with hydrogen as energy storage. Eniya further noted that Pertamina has begun utilising geothermal energy to produce hydrogen, with an initiative already launched in Ulubelu.

Eniya expressed confidence that hydrogen utilisation could strengthen Indonesia’s energy resilience, potentially raising its score from 7 out of 10 to 8 out of 10. She stressed that developing the hydrogen ecosystem requires collaboration between the government, state-owned enterprises, industry, research institutions, and international partners. “We want to harness our own energy sources, not depend on others,” she said.

During the summit, the government also launched the Hydrogen Diesel Dual Fuel (H2 DDF) Bus pilot project. This initiative involves modifying a Perum DAMRI diesel bus to operate on a combination of diesel and hydrogen fuel. The programme aims to reduce diesel consumption, lower exhaust emissions, build a low-carbon hydrogen transport ecosystem, and prepare vehicles for commercial development. Eniya added that the technology would eventually extend beyond buses to passenger cars, drones, forklifts, and hydrogen gas stoves.