Berita

PALEMBANG. South Sumatra has many types of energy resources, including oil, natural gas, geothermal, coal, biomass, coal bed methane, microhydro, and peat. With its abundant source of energy, South Sumatra has set to become the pioneer of energy management to secure the national energy reserve. This strategy is in line with the 2003 – 2020 National Energy Policy, mainly the role of regional areas in the development of energy. The South Sumatra government has set a program which is aimed at developing their province as the main source of national energy.

Intention of the regional government and its people to develop this province as the primary source of national energy was conveyed by Governor Syahrial Oesman to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during the opening of Borang Combined Cycle Powerplant on November 9, 2004. With presidential support,South Sumatra’s plan on becoming the primary source of national energy is expected to be carried out by all stakeholders, consisting of the central and regional government, city council, state owned and private companies, academics, non profit governmental organizations, and local communities.

Development of energy source which is aimed at developing South Sumatra as the primary energy source is carried out under a single 2006 – 2025 Master Plan on the Development of South Sumatra as a Primary Energy Source. This master plan is then used to set regional development programs, policies, and strategies. It is also used as a source of input for the central government in developing national energy programs, policies and strategies.

The province of South Sumatra is geo-economically strategic due to its relatively close location with the IMS-GT (Indonesia – Malaysia – Singapore Growth Triangle) and IMT-GT (Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle). This has a comparative advantage over other provinces due to its ease of access by land, water, and air transport. This advantage will positively affect the local economy by maximizing energy resource potentials in South Sumatra. (TC)