IESR: 100 GW Solar Power Programme Must Be a National Mission, Not a Ministerial One

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) Chief Executive Officer Fabby Tumiwa has said the programme to build 100 gigawatts (GW) of solar power plants (PLTS) must become a national programme rather than one under a ministry or agency if it is to be realised quickly.

“The 100 GW PLTS programme should not merely add capacity, but must become a sustainable energy transition programme,” Fabby Tumiwa said in Jakarta on Thursday.

According to him, the 100 GW PLTS programme announced by President Prabowo Subianto should not be burdened onto a single ministry or agency, because its development involves multiple sectors.

For that reason, Fabby said, IESR is urging the government to make the construction of 100 GW of PLTS a national programme under special oversight.

“We must make this programme a national programme, not a ministerial programme, and manage it as a national mission,” he said.

Fabby added that the government could emulate India, which successfully built 160 GW of PLTS by establishing a national solar mission, enabling the country to erect solar plants with substantial capacity in a relatively short time.

Fabby noted that in 2010 India had only 2 GW of PLTS capacity, yet by 2026 its development had accelerated rapidly to 160 GW.

“So the President could create a national solar programme, under which there would be a project management office whose daily work is to manage it. Because this involves various institutions,” he said.

He expressed confidence that if all parties work together to build renewable energy in the form of PLTS, the target could be achieved within three years.