Govt to prioritize energy research
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government will spend much of the budget allocated for research and development over the coming 20 years on developing new rice varieties and alternative energy resources.
The secretary of the Office of the State Minister for Research and Technology Ashwin Sasongko said on Friday that focusing research on these two areas would improve the country's food security and avoid a possible energy crisis in the future.
"These choices are highly pertinent as we have seen how East Nusa Tenggara and East Java are facing food shortages due to crop failures inflicted by the long dry season. In addition, our oil reserves are decreasing," Ashwin said.
The National Atomic Energy Agency (BATAN) is developing a new variety of rice that can withstand drought and produce greater yields.
Ashwin said that success in inventing a new, high-yielding variety would help the country achieve self-sufficiency in the food sector in the next few years.
Bambang Prasetyo, an assistant to the deputy state minister for research, said his office was working together with the Ministry of Agriculture to formulate specific programs, such as a biotechnology development program to support the food security program.
"We will launch a pilot project with the help of the Ministry of Agriculture. The project itself is expected to start in 2005. We are still working on the details at the moment," said Bambang.
He added that Indonesia's oil and gas reserves were diminishing rapidly, and according to BP Migas would only last for another 20 years.
Bambang said that the office of the state minister was also working together with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to encourage the use of brown coal as an alternative energy resource.
Indonesia has abundant supplies of brown coal, especially in Sumatra. However, brown coal needs processing before it can be used.
Apart from brown coal, Bambang said that the office of the state ministry would collaborate with other state research and technology institutions in developing biodiesel technology.
Research and development priorities would be discussed during a two-day meeting on Monday and Tuesday.
With a total budget of Rp 900 billion (US$107 million) to be spent on research and technology per year, Ashwin said Indonesia would focus on food and energy development.
"Our neighbors, such as Singapore and Malaysia, allocate approximately 1 to 2 percent of their Gross Domestic Products (GDP) on technology and research, while we only put aside 0.18 percent," said Ashwin.
Therefore, Ashwin urged the government to pay more attention to scientific and technological development in the country.