UI Academic: Energy Transition Should Not Force Shutdown of Young Coal-Fired Power Plants

Jakarta (ANTARA) - University of Indonesia (UI) Professor Rinaldy Dalimi stated that the renewable energy transition does not need to force the shutdown or cessation of operations of coal-fired power plants (PLTUs), as the shift must proceed in tandem.

“The renewable energy transition does not have to be pushed, because we still have fossil energy that needs to be utilised,” Rinaldy said in Jakarta on Wednesday, while speaking as a resource person at a discussion titled “Energy Transition is Not a Choice, But a Necessity.”

According to him, the existing energy infrastructure, namely PLTUs, does not need to be shut down to be rapidly replaced with renewable energy, considering the current ecosystem cannot immediately accept such changes. Rinaldy said the decision to shut down PLTUs must rest with PLN, as they hold full authority over the continuity of electricity in Indonesia.

He acknowledged that Indonesia must join other nations in achieving zero emissions and carrying out the renewable energy transition. “However, Indonesia is not responsible for climate change, because we are not the largest emitter, nor are we the largest consumer of coal; we are not included,” he remarked.

Therefore, he urged against forcing the shutdown of PLTUs according to environmental concepts. If that were done, he warned, energy security would be disrupted and PLN could go bankrupt. “Let PLN shut down its PLTUs according to the economic value of those plants. The lifespan of a PLTU is 50 years. Let each PLTU reach its economic age,” he added.