Prabowo Urges Universities to Accelerate Solar Power and Electric Vehicle Development

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Brian Yuliarto said President Prabowo Subianto has asked universities to support the accelerated development of solar power plants (PLTS) and the conversion to electric vehicles. He conveyed this after a limited meeting with the President and several ministers, including Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Minister for Investment and Hilirisasi who is also the CEO of Danantara Rosan Roeslani, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, on Thursday afternoon. ‘So we from the universities, research results, and also studies are asked to support the acceleration of solar cells, yes, PLTS,’ said Brian. He explained that the support would be provided through university research, studies, and findings to help accelerate the adoption of renewable and clean energy, specifically PLTS, aimed at replacing diesel-fired power plants which are considered costly. In practice, the coordination of the acceleration would be under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), while universities are asked to provide support from the research and scientific analysis side. In addition to accelerating PLTS, he said, the President also pressed for speeding up the conversion to electric vehicles to reduce dependence on fuel oil (BBM). ‘Secondly, how to accelerate conversion to electric vehicles. Why? Because both power generation from diesel and vehicles running on BBM still depend on BBM supply,’ he said. Brian noted the effort is necessary because diesel-powered generation plants and BBM-based vehicles rely on fuel supply, while BBM prices are high and can have a large impact on the economy. ‘So the President asked the relevant ministers to speed up the implementation, so that our dependence on imports and the price that may fluctuate quickly can be reduced,’ he said. The President, Brian added, also asked for accelerated use of electric stoves to replace LPG-powered stoves to reduce dependence on LPG and ease the burden of energy subsidies. ‘We were asked to also speed up how electric stoves can replace LPG stoves, so that when LPG prices rise, our dependence on LPG, subsidies we face, subsidies on LPG, and the overall burden on energy subsidies are reduced; the main point is to stabilise our fuel and electricity costs,’ he explained. Brian said the acceleration of studies and research related to these three issues would be carried out by universities and coordinated by the Minister of ESDM. ‘The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will support the results of studies, accelerate them, and coordinate the related studies and research on these three issues under the oversight of the Minister of ESDM,’ he concluded. At the same event, ESDM Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said the government would establish a Energy Transition Task Force to accelerate program implementation, including converting conventional motorcycles to electric. He said the task force would be formed to accelerate a transition of the 120 million motorbikes to electric. ‘The President has formed a Task Force to expedite this. And we were given the task by the President as Chair of the Task Force to implement and translate it rapidly,’ Bahlil said. The President, he added, aims for the program to be fully implemented within three to four years, or even sooner. In addition to speeding up the conversion of motorbikes, the task force would also ensure that various energy transition programs can be implemented promptly, including the development of solar power plants up to 100 gigawatts. The task force will also be responsible for quickly translating government policies so that energy transition programs, renewable energy development, and vehicle electrification can run effectively. Bahlil added that the pace of the energy transition is not only about speeding up the use of clean energy, but also about improving the efficiency of the state budget.