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)