"In the next three years, Bali will be transformed into an island largely utilizing clean sources of energy," ESDM Minister Sudirman Said noted after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Asian Development Bank here, Thursday.
The reason for selecting Bali Island for the project is its landmass. Bali is considered to be vast enough to be developed as a clean energy technology center.
In addition, Bali is an island that receives the highest number of foreign tourists, so it can serve as a role model for other nations.
"Three years from now, Bali must be the first province having the required capability to produce clean energy, which has low emission," Sudirman noted.
In other parts of the country, clean energy projects are going to be maximized in the eastern region due to the wide availability of land spaces.
"Why Eastern Indonesia? Because it is important to introduce gas as the main fuel to the people in that part of the country, so that the gas would be distributed across the country," he added.
The ESDM has signed an MoU with Asian Development Bank on the development of clean energy technology and research center in Indonesia.
"This is an effort to achieve the target of using up to 25 percent renewable energy by the end of 2025," Sudirman explained.
A loan of up to US$6 billion and also grants that were not mentioned in detail will be offered as part of the cooperation.
This loan amount would not be disbursed at once, but it will be a four-year medium-term loan.
"We hope it can serve as a trigger for foreign investors to support clean energy technology," he added.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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