Indonesia to Concentrate on Renewable Energy Ahead of Nuclear Option

Jakarta Globe 30 Mar 11;

The government says it will maximize the use of new and renewable energy — especially geothermal, hydro-energy and bio fuels — before deciding to use nuclear energy.

Luluk Sumiarso, the director general of renewable energy at the Energy Ministry, said on Tuesday that the nuclear energy was the last option.

“But being the last option does not mean that nuclear is not being prepared. [The ministry] will continue to prepare it, but we are now maximizing the use of new and renewable energy, such as geothermal, hydro-energy and bio fuels, which have the potential for development,” Luluk said.

He said the plan to build nuclear power plants would go ahead.

“But the use of nuclear energy needs a political decision,” Luluk said, adding that the case of nuclear power plant in Fukushima, Japan, would be a lesson for Indonesia.

He said the government was revising its quotas of new and renewable energy utilization in the energy mix from the previously targeted at 17 percent to be 25 percent in 2025.

“The revision of the energy mix is made by including nuclear and non nuclear,” Luluk said.

He said the government would also make every effort to speed up the utilization of the new and renewable energy.

Therefore the government is currently carrying out the construction of the second phase 10,000 MW power plant with most of its energy will come from geothermal and hydro-power, he said.

It is the target of the government that the geothermal capacity will increase by 2,000 MW in 2012 and rises to 5,000 MW in 2014 because the the country’s geothermal potential is 29,000 MW.

Luluk said that aside from geothermal energy, his party would also review the development of bio-fuels.

Antara

Geothermal less risky than nuclear
Antara 30 Mar 11;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The use of geothermal energy poses fewer risks than nuclear power, a number of activists said here on Wednesday.

Muhammad Ridho, one of the activists grouped in the Care Unit Geothermal Power Plant, said at an Indonesian Renovation Forum that geothermal energy potential should be prioritized because it is less risky than nuclear energy.

He said Indonesia had the largest source of geothermal energy in the world that serves as a potential strategy for non-military national defense.

"The risk in the utilization of geothermal energy is less than that of nuclear power, and geothermal pressure control can reduce and inhibit the occurrence of volcanic eruption," he said.

For the sake of security and national interests and welfare of the people, Muhammad Ridho said the state should wisely control the geothermal energy to ensure continuous availability of power supply.

Therefore he added that the government and the House of Representatives should continue to encourage the regions with geothermal energy to form regionally owned enterprises.

"Indonesia`s geothermal energy potential which is the largest in the world should serve as a golden opportunity to become the `Center of Excellence` in the field of energy," he said.
(Uu.O001/HAJM)

Editor: Priyambodo RH