Indonesia explores potential as regional energy supplier
Indonesia explores potential as regional energy supplier
JAKARTA (JP): An energy system tapping Indonesia's energy
potential is being proposed as a way of meeting the increasing
energy demands of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN).
After opening an ASEAN Senior Official Meeting on Energy
Cooperation (SOMEC) in Kuta, Bali, yesterday, Director General of
Electricity and Energy Development Zuhal said the meeting would
deliberate, among other topics, the energy interconnection
system.
After being deliberated at the SOMEC, Zuhal said, the system
will be proposed at the ASEAN Economic Ministerial Meeting on
Energy Cooperation (AEMMEC) slated for Oct. 26 in Kuta.
An action plan will likely be developed once the proposal has
been discussed, Zuhal explained.
The proposed system would connect the Indonesian island of
Sumatra, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. In the next
phase, he said, the Philippines and Brunei will likely be
connected as well.
"The power that can be generated by the abundant coal
resources in Sumatra can be channeled to the interconnected
system," Zuhal was quoted by Antara as saying.
According to 1993 data at the state oil firm Pertamina,
Indonesia has 36 billion tons of coal reserves and oil reserves
of 10.92 billion barrels.
Zuhal explained that the private sector, especially in ASEAN
countries, will be involved in the project.
"In these SOMEC and AEMMEC meetings, we will only work out
guidelines for the private sector, which will carry out the
construction of the energy interconnection system," Zuhal said.
He noted that a number of companies from Indonesia, Malaysia
and Thailand have expressed interest in conducting feasibility
studies for the project.
The two-day SOMEC in Bali, which is being attended by
officials from the seven ASEAN member countries, is discussing
cooperation in the areas of coal, oil and gas, energy
conservation, environment and research and development.
In the electricity sector, Zuhal said, ASEAN power companies
have expressed their concern with establishing an independent
energy cooperation forum to secure the region's energy supply.
(rid)