JAKARTA: Indonesia’s planned expansion of” captive” coal plants used to power industry is threatening its pledge to cut CO2 emissions by 2030 and close all coal-fired plants by a decade later, said a report published on Thursday ( Feb 20 ).
Coal-dependent Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, is one of the nation’s top transmitters but President Prabowo Subianto last time committed to phasing out coal in only 15 years and reaching net-zero emissions by mid-century.
According to a report from London-based energy think tank Ember, Indonesia’s fresh national power master plan, which was released in November, projects a sharp increase in renewable energy as well as a sharp increase in coal generation after 2030.
The new strategy raises” concerns that Indonesia’s latest power masterplan could substantially increase fuel power era”, Ember said.
By 2030, Jakarta had recently predicted that its renewable energy mix may account for 44 % of its electricity generation.
However, according to Ember, the new strategy includes 26.8GW of new coal power over the next seven years, with more than 20GW coming from the so-called prisoner fuel expansion, which provides energy to business rather than the grid.
Indonesia now operates 49.7GW of coal-fired power plants, according to Ember, and the government says 253 coal-fired strength flowers were operational as of December.
But lots more coal-fired flowers remain under development, including imprisoned fuel flowers.
State-run energy firm Perusahaan Listrik Negara did not respond to a request for comment.