Talks on new energy soon

JAKARTA (JP): An international conference on renewable energy and energy efficiency will be held at the Jakarta Convention Center from Oct. 14 to Oct. 16, an official has said.

Director General of Electricity and Energy Development Endro Utomo Notodisuryo said early this week that the objective of the conference was to exchange information on energy use among the Asia-Pacific countries.

It also aimed to promote the use of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency in the region, Endro said.

"Privatization issues in the energy sector will be among the topics of discussion at the conference," he said.

According to Endro, the conference will be attended by 400 participants from across the region, including energy ministers of different countries and leading figures in environmental and financial sectors.

He said the conference would be organized by the United States' Asia-Pacific Initiative for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency and the Indonesian government and was scheduled to be officially opened by President Soeharto at Merdeka Palace on Oct. 14. (jsk)