Renewable energy development urged

Renewable energy development urged

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto called for the development of
renewable energy resources yesterday to meet increasing demand
for electricity.

In his speech at the opening of an Asia-Pacific conference on
renewable energy and energy efficiency at the State Palace, the
President said the development of renewable energy resources was
essential because current resources could be depleted by the
middle of the next century.

"In the 21st century, Indonesia's need for electricity will
reach 28,000 megawatts (MW), based on the rate of demand for
electricity with an average rise of 13.8 percent annually,"
Soeharto said.

State and private sectors can only provide 21,500 MW at
present.

The President pointed out that the current capacity of
geothermal electric power at 300 MW was very small compared to
the country's geothermal reserves of about 19,000 MW.

"Geothermal energy is one of the primary sources of power in
Indonesia," he said.

Soeharto said energy needs of the Asia-Pacific region were
also constantly on the rise while crude oil reserves were very
limited and exhaustible.

"This is the reason why it is extremely important to utilize
new and renewable energy resources for the development of the
region in years to come," he remarked.

Indonesia produced 1.61 million barrels of crude oil per day
in 1996, and 8.18 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

The President also pointed out another potential energy source
that could be widely used -- hydropower -- as there was the
potential to produce 75,000 MW of hydropower. Only about 2,200 MW
of this energy source was used.

"Another major potential source that will be developed is the
Mamberamo river in Irian Jaya. This river has the potential to
generate up to 15,000 MW of power," Soeharto said.

State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie said
last year that the proposed project would include the creation of
rice fields along the river and the building of dams for power
projects and irrigation purposes. An industrial project would be
set up downstream.

"The Mamberamo project will provide rice fields with fertile
soil the size of Java," he said.

The Mamberamo integrated project would cost three times more
than the US$40 billion Natuna gas project in Riau, Habibie said.

"Energy plays such a pivotal role in a nation's life that it
can strongly bind nations with cooperation. On the contrary, it
can also become the source of international conflict," Soeharto
warned. (prb)