Prabowo orders shift from diesel to solar power plants
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said in Jakarta on Thursday (March 19) that the policy must be promptly assessed and implemented.
“Due to high oil prices, the president has instructed us to immediately assess and implement the conversion of diesel power plants to solar power,” he said.
Hartarto added that Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, has been assigned to handle issues related to diesel-powered plants.
Meanwhile, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto said diesel power plants are still widely used and should be gradually replaced with solar power plants.
He noted that the president has called for an immediate shift away from diesel plants due to their high costs and environmental impact, adding that renewable energy would offer significant benefits.
The president has also appointed Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Bahlil Lahadalia to lead the Energy Transition Acceleration Task Force.
Following a meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta, Bahlil said the government is pushing forward clean and renewable energy programs, including the development of solar power plants, allocated to schools and villages..
“We have just concluded a limited meeting with the president to discuss the implementation of clean and renewable energy, including a 100-gigawatt solar power program,” Bahlil said at the State Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (March 5).
To accelerate the transition, the government has formed a dedicated task force led by Bahlil.
“The goal is to speed up the energy transition and reduce subsidies. Converting diesel plants to solar power will improve efficiency in electricity subsidies and support the adoption of electric motorcycles and cars,” he said.
The initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to improve energy availability and expand access to electricity services in rural and underserved regions.
Related news: Prabowo targets energy self-sufficiency in five years via solar power
Related news: Prabowo urges universities to back clean energy push
Translator: Fathur Rochman, Resinta Sulistiyandari