Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif held a bilateral meeting with the Swiss counterpart, Head of the Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications Simonetta Sommaruga on Sunday (22/5) in the House of Swiss, Davos. The bilateral meeting is part of a series of events at the 2022 World Economic Forum.
Tasrif said in a written statement, Monday, that the meeting was part of a lobbying effort to supply Indonesian gas to European countries. He said “the current (Russian-Ukrainian) conflict has caused energy prices to rise and supply difficulties. We asked if there is a possibility for Indonesia to allocate its LNG for Europe.”
The bilateral meeting discussed a number of things including opportunities for cooperation in the energy sector. Tasrif said the Swiss government praised Indonesia’s progress in energy transition and developing new and renewable energy (NRE).
“(Sommaruga) said that Indonesia’s progress in energy transition has been quite good. There are already regulations for rooftop solar panels, and a presidential regulation on NRE rates and other upcoming programs,” he added.
The meeting also discussed cooperation in capacity building to produce reliable engineers. Tasrif said, there are currently already engineering students from nine polytechnics in Indonesia who are receiving capacity building training in Switzerland.
Other discussions were also related to the potential for continuing cooperation in the development of micro-hydro technology for power plants. Tasrif said this collaboration had been established in 2006 but stopped in 2008. “I request for the cooperation to resume … so we can develop small hydropower plants, especially for the smallest and outermost regions,” he concluded. (Hartatik)
Banner photo: Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif. Source: Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources
