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Indonesia could reach net zero by 2045

INDONESIA INDONESIA could reach net zero by 2045, as 2050, as has China.
the government tries to establish the state as a Indonesia is a major coal economy, both as
middle-income country by the centenary of its a miner, consumer and exporter. Coal currently
independence. accounts for 60% of the country’s generating
Indonesian Planning Minister Suharso Mon- output.
oarfa told the Foreign Policy Community of The government wants by 2025 to double
Indonesia (FPCI) that setting 2045 as the target Indonesia’s share of renewables, which stood at
date for net zero would allow the government to just 5%, or 12% including hydro, in 2018, accord-
pursue a pro-growth strategy. ing to the 2019 BP Statistical Review of Energy.
“Our scenarios demonstrate that a firm Gas accounts for a further 26% of the country’s
commitment to green recovery and low-car- 60,000 MW of capacity.
bon development could save Indonesia from its China’s imports from Indonesia, the world’s
biggest threat come its golden centennial age in biggest shipper of thermal coal used in power
2045, namely the climate crisis, and help Indo- plants, dropped 24.5% in the first 10 months
nesia [become a] middle-income country,” said of 2020 to 86.88mn tonnes, compared with
Suharso. 115.03mn tonnes during the same period last
The minister said that a 2045 target would year, according to Refinitiv data.
lead to higher personal incomes across Indone- Indonesia’s government aims to have 23%
sia than alternative target dates of 2050, 2060 or of energy coming from renewable sources by
2070. 2025, up from around 9% in July, but progress
However, this is only the opinion of one on renewable projects has been slow.
government minister, and the government as a The country has an over 400-GW potential
whole has not set a target date for net zero. capacity for renewable sources such as hydro-
The announcement comes as a succession of power, solar and geothermal, but only around
Asian countries have set carbon-neutral target 2.5% had been utilised, according to government
dates. Japan and South Korea have decided on data.™

P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 16 21•April•2021