Energy Minister Calls on Energy Patriots to Identify Renewables Potential in Remote Regions

MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES

REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

PRESS RELEASE

NUMBER: 333.Pers/04/SJI/2021

Date: 20 September 2021

Energy Minister Calls on Energy Patriots to Identify Renewables Potential in Remote Regions

Many Indonesians still do not have access to energy, particularly those living in 3T (frontier, outermost, least developed) regions. The government has to make every effort to provide the access to electrical energy as much as possible so that communities can have electricity, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (EMR), Arifin Tasrif, has said during the Initial Briefing for Energy Patriots on Monday (20/9).

To identify the energy sources in these regions, the Ministry of EMR will send young people who are compassionate, active, smart, enthusiastic, motivated, and who have received training to promote the development of new, renewable energy (NRE).

"We hope that those of you who will be assigned to the field after your training here (Center for Human Resource Development on Electricity, New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation, PPSDM KEBTKE) can identify the potential that exists in the regions, which can be used by the local communities at competitive cost and with simple management so that people in remote areas can produce their own energy," added Arifin.

According to Arifin, the world's current technological advances showed that new, renewable energy had become increasingly competitive and would get even more competitive in the coming years compared to fossil energy.

"We'll continue to observe this development. Currently, we are still in the transition stage, and we must remind ourselves so that the transition can run smoothly, without distortions that may cause obstacles and social impacts," said Arifin.

According to Arifin, becoming an Energy Patriot is an invaluable contribution to the nation and state, because Energy Patriots empower people to use clean energy.

"This is a form of your dedication to this nation and the future generations. Although we start off small, this can become our culture. Let's create a culture of clean energy, of people who have the ability to manage energy; we rely on you all to make this happens in reality," said Arifin.

Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (NREEC) of the Ministry of EMR, Dadan Kusdiana, said there were 100 Energy Patriot candidates, consisting of 77 people from western Indonesia and 23 people from eastern Indonesia, and 42 males and 58 females.

"To prepare the Energy Patriots for their duties, we'll give them initial training. It consists of several subjects, namely Technical Competence, Perseverance Competence, Patriotism Competence, and Sincerity Competence," explained Dadan.

Dadan added that the PPSDM EBTKE together with the IBEKA Foundation had prepared a series of training activities, training methods, curriculum, and resource people. This way, the Energy Patriots will have provisions to deal with any obstacles and challenges in the field.

"The training series starts when the Energy Patriots arrived in Jakarta on September 18th, 2021. Introduction to the program, rules, committees, and educators were carried out on September 19th, 2021. Training in technical competence will be held in-person for 10 days, from September 20th to September 29th, 2021, at the PPSDM KEBTKE. The technical training will include subjects such as the ability to map renewable energy potential as well as to operate and maintain renewable energy facilities," explained Dadan.

After the technical competency training, the next training will focus on perseverance and sincerity competences, community-based development, and live-in field simulation for 32 days, between September 30th and October 30th, 2021, at IBEKA, Dadan continued.

For the record, the Energy Patriots are young people who are compassionate, active, smart, enthusiastic, motivated, and trained to promote NRE development, especially in the 4T (frontier, outermost, least developed, and transmigration) regions to improve people's welfare.

Directorate General of NREEC once held the Energy Patriots program back in 2015-2016. The program trained 200 young people in cooperation with the IBEKA Foundation. Funded by the State Budget, the Patriots were assigned in regions where NRE infrastructure had been built by DG NREEC in an effort to empower communities to utilize local renewable energy.

For 2021, the Energy Patriot program is supported by PT Pertamina (Persero), PT PLN (Persero), PT Sumber Segara Primadaya, PT Bukit Asam, Bank BRI, PT Bayan Resources Tbk, PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero), PT Indika Energy Tbk, PT Medco Power, PT Star Energy, PT Kaltim Prima Coal, PT Adaro Energy Tbk, PT Berau Coal, PT Petro China, PT Antam, and UPC Sidrap. (IY)

Head of Bureau of Communication, Public Information Services, and Cooperation

Agung Pribadi (08112213555)

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