Jakarta-jendeladunia.id
By: Maret Samuel Sueken
Independent Commissioner of PT Rekayasa Industri; Electricity Expert at PLN for the Ibu Kota Nusantara project; Permanent Committee Member for Electricity Affairs at KADIN Kalimantan Timur
The Provincial Government of East Kalimantan is preparing a major step in transforming its energy sector by opening opportunities for green energy investment estimated to reach more than Rp150 trillion over the coming decades.
This commitment was emphasized by the Governor of East Kalimantan, Rudy Mas’ud, during the inauguration of the regional leadership of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) of East Kalimantan.
The initiative forms part of the province’s long-term strategy to support the development of Indonesia’s new capital city, Nusantara (IKN) while accelerating the transition toward a cleaner and more sustainable energy system.
Transition from Fossil Energy to Renewable Energy
For decades, East Kalimantan has been widely known as one of Indonesia’s main centers of fossil energy production, particularly coal and oil. However, the global shift toward a low-carbon economy is encouraging the province to diversify its energy sources by developing renewable energy.
Through its regional energy enterprise, PT Ketenagalistrikan Kaltim Perseroda, the provincial government is preparing several strategic projects that are open to both national and international investors.
Some of the projects currently being mapped include:
Large-scale solar power plants
Biomass energy based on plantation waste
Biomethane production
Waste-to-energy power plants in urban areas
In addition, the potential development of small and medium-scale hydropower plants in several inland areas of East Kalimantan is also being studied as part of strengthening the region’s energy system.
Supporting the Energy Needs of IKN
Energy demand is expected to increase significantly alongside the development of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) and the growth of new industrial zones in East Kalimantan. This has become one of the key drivers accelerating investment in the energy sector.
The development of green energy projects is not only aimed at strengthening regional energy resilience, but also at creating a new economic ecosystem based on clean energy.
With abundant natural resources, a strategic location as the main supporting region for the new capital, and strong commitment from the local government to promote sustainable investment, East Kalimantan is considered to have great potential to become one of Indonesia’s key green energy development hubs.
Toward Indonesia’s Future Energy Hub
If the planned projects can be implemented gradually, green energy investments in East Kalimantan are expected not only to deliver significant economic benefits for the region, but also to contribute to Indonesia’s national efforts to accelerate the transition to clean energy.
In the future, East Kalimantan is expected to be recognized not only as a producer of conventional energy, but also as one of the driving forces behind Indonesia’s future energy development.
(Ine)
