RI, Dutch energy cooperation

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and the Netherlands have agreed to bolster bilateral relations in the energy sector.

Indonesian Ministry of Mines and Energy's spokesman Budhi Sulistyo said in a statement on Friday the countries made the agreement during the Dutch-Indonesia fourth energy meeting from Feb. 23 to Feb. 25 in Yogyakarta.

He said the Dutch government would invite 10 Indonesians to the Netherlands for training on the use of coal as part of the cooperation.

It will also provide technical assistance to Indonesia to formulate a regulatory framework for the power sector.

Several officials of the ministry's Directorate General of Electricity and Energy Development will go to the Netherlands for training on energy planning and a comparative study on energy conservation.

The countries will also continue cooperation in developing solar photovoltaic and biomass in Indonesia.

The Dutch government will also help in translating geoscientific books from Dutch to Indonesian.

The fifth energy meeting of both countries will be held in the Netherlands in 2000. (jsk)