Jakarta—The government’s plan to revive the coal gasification project into dimethyl ether (DME) through funding from Danantara has drawn sharp criticism from environmental experts. They see this move as contrary to clean energy transition efforts and potentially extending dependence on harmful fossil fuels.
Firdaus Cahyadi, founder of Indonesian Climate Justice Literacy, said on Monday, 10 March, that coal is dirty energy from the mining process to its combustion. “The government’s decision to allocate Danantara funds for coal gasification projects is a step backward in the effort to transition to clean energy,” said Firdaus.
Previously, during a limited meeting at the Merdeka Palace in early March, President Prabowo Subianto instructed that the coal gasification project be resumed through Danantara funding. The project is planned to be located at three strategic points in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
However, the environmental impact of coal gasification is a significant concern. Data from Action Ecology & Emancipation of the People (AEER) reveals that DME production’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are five times those of the same amount of LPG production. Concretely, DME production produces 824,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year, further exacerbating the climate crisis.
“Ironically, when many countries are starting to reduce dependence on coal and switch to renewable energy, Indonesia wants to extend the life of coal through unsustainable solutions,” continued Firdaus. “This is not in the public interest, but rather to save the coal industry that is starting to be abandoned globally.”
Critics of this policy also scrutinise the political and business interests behind the decision. Firdaus assessed that the government has shown its partiality to the coal industry several times. “Previously, the government also distributed mining concessions to Islamic mass organisations, which shows the strong influence of the fossil energy elite in the circle of power,” he said.
Furthermore, Firdaus invited the public to be critical and reject policies that do not align with clean energy transition efforts. “If the public does not speak out, then the interests of a handful of elites will continue to sacrifice the environment and the people’s future. It is time for us to stand up and reject Danantara’s funding for projects that endanger environmental sustainability,” he said.
The government’s steps in energy development should lead to sustainable solutions, not prolong dependence on dirty energy. With the growing global awareness of the adverse impacts of coal, Indonesia should direct investment towards renewable energy that is more environmentally friendly and sustainable. (Hartatik)
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