Govt to prioritize energy research
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.