JAKARTA – The commitment of the local government in increasing the mix of new and renewable energy (NRE) is starting to gain momentum, officials said Wednesday (9/3). At least 22 provinces have enacted Regional Regulations (Perda) on Regional Energy General Plans (RUED).
At the Governor’s Forum on Energy Transition, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif said that the NRE regulation is a representation of the local government’s commitment to supporting the improvement of the renewable energy mix in the region.
The 22 provinces that have enacted Regional Regulations on RUED are Central Java, West Java, West Nusa Tenggara, North Kalimantan, East Java, Lampung, Bengkulu, Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo, East Nusa Tenggara, East Kalimantan, Jambi, Aceh. Then the Bangka Belitung Islands, West Sumatra, South Kalimantan, Yogyakarta, South Sumatra, Bali, West Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, and West Kalimantan.
Tasrif detailed that twelve other provinces are in the process of drafting regulations. One province is at the drafting stage in the province, two provinces are in the process of discussing it with the regional parliament, three provinces are being facilitated by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and six provinces will complete the process of forming the 2022 Regional Regulation.
According to him, the determination of RUED is not the end goal, the plans need to be implemented for the energy transition to run well. Several provinces have implemented RUED, including the construction of small-scale NRE plants. Some provinces have issued a governor’s regulation on the technical implementation of the RUED and the governor’s regulation on clean energy and electric vehicles. There are also regions that have issued governor’s circulars for instructions on the use of Roof solar power generation for government buildings, industry, hotels and households.
“I hope that the participation of all parties, including in particular local governments, SOEs, and private business entities will create better conditions in the implementation of the energy transition,” Tasrif said.
Meanwhile, Secretary General of the National Energy Council (DEN) Djoko Siswanto revealed that the acceleration of new and renewable energy in the regions is not reliable enough from the state and regional budgets (APBD and APBN) given the budget constraints. So, funding support is needed from other legitimate sources starting from regional and state owned enterprises (BUMD, BUMN), and the private sector and community participation.
The Regional Regulation on RUED was first issued by the Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo. Then followed by dozens of other local governments. Recently, the Governor of Bali, I Wayan Koster, has also issued a circular for the installation of rooftop solar panels in households, offices, hotels and other public facilities.
The government targets Bali as one of the models that the world can see during the G20 Summit at the end of 2022. The Island of the Gods is said to be in a race to accelerate the installation of solar panels in a number of locations such as gas stations and toll roads. (Hartatik)
