Indonesia to Shut Down Diesel Power Plants and Replace with Solar Energy in 30 Regions
Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has announced that 30 priority locations have been identified to transition from fossil fuel-based power generation to renewable energy sources (EBT), particularly away from diesel-based generation.
Diesel power plants (PLTD) across Indonesia will be replaced with renewable energy power plants, notably solar power plants (PLTS). Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Yuliot Tanjung outlined that 30 locations have been prioritised by the government for conversion from fossil fuel-based to renewable energy-based generation. Several locations mentioned include Simeulue, Nias, Mentawai, and Enggano.
“We have already prioritised more than 30 locations,” Yuliot stated during a meeting at the Energy Ministry headquarters in Jakarta on Friday, 13 March 2026.
The prioritised regions are underdeveloped, remote, and frontier areas (3T regions) that currently depend on PLTD as their primary electricity source. Additionally, these 3T regions remain unconnected to broader electricity infrastructure.
“Most of these areas still use diesel. They are in 3T regions that are not yet connected to the grid; they still rely on diesel. This is our de-dieselisation programme,” he added.
Yuliot noted that the plan to replace PLTD with PLTS represents a continuation of the long-advocated de-dieselisation programme by the government. The plan is also part of the broader 100-gigawatt solar power programme across Indonesia.
President Prabowo Subianto has directed the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia to “shut down” diesel power plants and transition to domestic energy sources such as solar power plants (PLTS) and geothermal power plants (PLTP).
This shift is necessary to optimise domestic energy resources and reduce dependence on imported fuel, particularly given the current geopolitical climate fraught with uncertainty.
“Given the geopolitical situation, we cannot ensure that our energy situation will remain stable in the long term,” said Bahlil following a limited meeting with President Prabowo Subianto regarding the renewable energy task force at the Presidential Palace on Thursday, 12 March 2026.
“Therefore, we are maximising all our domestic energy potential and converting energy sources from fossil fuels,” he stated.
According to the 2025-2034 electricity supply plan (RUPTL), the total planned addition of new power generation capacity stands at 69.5 gigawatts (GW) by 2034, comprising 42.6 GW (61%) from renewable energy-based power plants and 10.3 GW (15%) from energy storage systems.
Among all renewable energy sources, solar energy (PLTS) holds a significant share of 17.1 GW. This is followed by hydroelectric power (PLTA) at 11.7 GW, wind power (PLTB) at 7.2 GW, geothermal power (PLTP) at 5.2 GW, bioenergy at 0.9 GW, and nuclear power (PLTN) at 0.5 GW.
For energy storage systems, the capacity includes pumped-storage hydroelectricity at 4.3 GW and battery storage at 6.0 GW. Meanwhile, fossil fuel-based generation will still account for 16.6 GW of new capacity, comprising 10.3 GW from natural gas and 6.3 GW from coal.