Energy saving more important

JAKARTA (JP): The economic crisis is forcing businesses to save money by paying more attention to energy conservation practices, the state energy conservation consultancy PT Koneba has said.

Company president Ramses O. Hutapea said yesterday that prior to the crisis, few industries employed energy conservation measures because fuel and electricity were cheap due to government subsidies.

The government has announced that it would reduce fuel subsidies this year resulting in increased fuel and electricity prices.

"The high fuel and electricity prices will subsequently force industries to conserve energy to reduce costs," Hutapea said after a ceremony marking the completion of renovations to his company headquarters on Jl. Walter Monginsidi, South Jakarta.

The ceremony was presided over by Minister of Mines and Energy I.B. Sudjana.

Hutapea said Koneba, which was established in 1987 to provide energy conservation technical assistance to companies, has about 100 clients, mostly state companies.

Koneba provides services in cooperation with companies such as Econo Energy of Finland, Beak Engineering of Canada and Rotheon Ebasco of the United States. (jsk)