Driving up NRE Sources, Ex-Mines are Turned into "Solar Fields"

MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES

REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
PRESS RELEASE

NUMBER: 033.Pers/04/SJI/2020
Date: 17 January 2020

Driving up NRE Sources, Ex-Mines are Turned into "Solar Fields"

The abundant sources of New Renewable Energy (NRE) in Indonesia will be used by the government, for example by formulating the policy to turn ex-mines into new solar-based electricity sources or solar power plants (PLTS).

"In the future, the government will build electricity sources at ex-mines so that we can minimize pollution," said Minister of EMR Arifin Tasrif at the Indonesia Millennial Summit 2020 in The Tribrata building in Jakarta, Friday (17/1).

Arifin explains that the decision should answer the challenges of depleting fossil-based energy sources and limited global assistance to finance projects using fossil energy. "We are transforming, from fossil energy to NRE energy although the transformation takes some time," he said.

Previously, Director General of NREEC of Ministry of EMR F.X. Sutijastoto explained in detail the plan to use ex-mines. The government has conducted initial evaluation to 200 hectares (ha) of ex-mine land ready for the location of solar power plant. "This will be in line with the construction of electricity transmission," he said a while ago after the press conference on Achievements of the EMR Sector.

According to Sutijastoto, the construction of a solar power plant at ex-mine needs a shorter period compared with other types of power plant. A solar power plant can be constructed in just a year.

According to the plan, the use of ex-mine for power plant location will not be limited to miners, but is instead open to other businesses. "If Business to Business (B to B) is enough, carry on with B-to-B; you don't have to have a mine," Sutijastoto explained.

The government itself has a very strong commitment to both optimize NRE utilization and meet NRE investment target of USD2.3 billion in 2020. Optimization is directed to reduce dependency on fossil energy sources. "We will use our sources to reduce oil fuel needs. We won't rely on fossil sources. This way, in a few decades, we will be an energy- sovereign country," said Arifin concluding his remarks. (IY)

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