Berita

JAKARTA. Economic development has spurred the growth of energy consumption, underlining the strategic role of energy security.  Law No 30 / 2007 on energy states that every individual has a right towards energy and the government has an obligation to manage ensure the availability of energy.

Energy plays a vital role in developing economic activities and national security, which means that energy management which includes the supply, demand, and consumption of energy must be carried out in a sensible, continued, rational, and optimized manner.  Energy conservation and diversification is the primary key for energy security.  The importance and strategic role of energy security was explained by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Darwin Saleh, emphasizing the importance of energy security and stabilization of energy supply.

Indonesia’s dependency on oil, both to fuel development or increasing state income have put us in a very delicate position, stressing the need to become a solid energy economy.  Former Energy and Mineral Resource Minister, Purnomo Yusgiantoro have pointed out several steps required to overcome this problem, including changing crude oil mentality into an energy one.  This is carried out by applying a swift and systematic energy diversification and conservation program which is carried out on a national scale.

Diversification includes conversion of oil based energy into non-oil energy sources such as gas and coal.  Kerosene to LPG conversion program which has been successfully implemented by the government and local communities during the past couple of years still needs to be continually improved.  Subsidy cuts have forced household and industrial consumers to reduce their fuel consumption.

The next step that needs to be taken is incorporating the energy conservation and diversification into the national development blueprint.  This may be carried out by converting the use of non renewable fossil energy into renewable sources such as biofuel, geothermal, hydro, solar, and nuclear power.

One final step that needs to be taken is the preparation of energy infrastructure, including its legal framework, research, funding, and necessary manpower.  If these are not immediately prepared, Indonesia would certainly face many challenges in entering the next phase of energy conversion, switching from fossil fuels into renewable energy.