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)