Yogyakarta – The transition to clean energy is not without risk. Researchers from various countries warned that the development of renewable energy projects in Global South countries, including Indonesia, could trigger social conflicts if carried out without active and meaningful involvement of local communities.
This warning was raised in an international forum entitled “Polarisation and Its Discontents in the Global South: Mitigation Measures, Strategies, and Policies” organised by the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) on 25-26 April 2025.
According to the researchers, the dominant technocratic and elitist approach in the energy transition policy ignores the social and cultural realities of communities in the project area. As a result, horizontal and vertical conflicts are difficult to avoid.
“The elite discourse on energy transition only highlights the issue of replacing fossil energy with renewable energy, but forgets that for local communities, energy is related to land, water, air, and their social relations,” said Samsul Maarif, a member of the ICRS Consortium Assembly.
He emphasised that if local communities are only positioned as objects of policy, then the idea of an equitable energy transition will only be an empty slogan.
Sumedang case: “Clean Energy” that takes over living space
One of the case studies raised in the discussion was the geothermal project in Mount Tampomas, Sumedang, West Java. The area’s designation as a Geothermal Working Area (WKP) became a source of social tension between the community and the government.
In the documentary film “Under the Shadow of the Drill Bit,” screened at the forum, residents recounted the project’s direct impact. Eme, a resident of Cilangkap Village, said the government calls it clean energy.
“But we lost our water sources, rice fields and customary forests. This is still a form of deprivation of living space.”
Similar conditions also occur in Toraja. Chelsea, a local resident, said that the geothermal exploration project was carried out suddenly without proper socialisation.
“The community was shocked. Suddenly, someone entered the village with heavy equipment. We didn’t know anything because only the local government was invited, not us who live here,” he said.
Pollution and health threats
More than just disengagement, some projects even carry health risks. Residents from areas such as NTT, South Sulawesi and Sumatra reported adverse impacts from hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) gas leaks, including cases of poisoning and death.
“This project was supposed to be a solution, but instead it caused a water crisis, pollution, and even death,” said one forum participant.
Al Ayubi, Policy Strategist from CERAH, emphasised that the sustainability of clean energy projects relies heavily on public participation.
“The energy transition must be clean, fair and inclusive. If local communities are not involved, projects can not only fail, but also increase social inequality,” he said.
Ayubi warned that recurring conflicts could delay or even cancel project construction. This would threaten the sustainability of national energy programmes and slow down the achievement of energy transition targets.
The international forum emphasised that the energy transition’s success is not only determined by technological and economic aspects. Social, ecological and cultural justice must be the cornerstone of energy policy-making.
Forum participants recommended the involvement of local and indigenous communities from the project planning stage, transparency and accountability in decision-making processes, recognition of cultural and ecological values in the project area and protection of land, water and environmental rights. (Hartatik)
Banner photo: Image generated by OpenAI’s DALL·E via ChatGPT (2024)
