Jakarta (ANTARA) - Development of the electric car industry can be a solution to the nation's energy problems, such as the high imports of crude oil and fuel (BBM), Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Chief Moeldoko stated.

The need for fuel oil in Indonesia currently reaches 1.8 million barrels per day, although national fuel production only touches 700 thousand barrels daily, Moeldoko stated at the Indonesia Electric Motor Show (IEMS) 2021 in South Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday.

"Some 60 percent of our fuel oil is still imported," he remarked.

The KSP chief noted that Indonesia was encountering challenges to reduce the need for crude oil imports as the source for fuel oil.

Moeldoko pointed out that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had issued Presidential Regulation No. 55 of 2019 on accelerating the battery electric vehicle program for road transportation. The regulation aims to facilitate the requirements for electric vehicle development.

"If we do not quickly set our focus on developing electric cars, then (the problem) will become more unbalanced, as energy needs are increasing, but our electricity reserves are decreasing. It is getting tardier," he emphasized.

Nevertheless, he believed that the battery electric vehicle program would be realized soon.

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The government has also invited all parties, both in the upstream and downstream sectors, to tackle the challenges faced by the electric vehicle industry.

Some of those challenges are the establishment of supporting industries, such as batteries, and the construction of public electric vehicle charging stations (SPKLUs).

"We need fiscal and non-fiscal support for this industry, such as attracting potential investors to invest in the electric vehicle industry in Indonesia," Moeldoko added.

He also called on the banking industry to not hesitate to provide financing.

"We have gathered together the representatives of the banking sector and disseminated information to them to not hesitate to provide financing for the development of electric vehicles," he explained.

The Indonesia Electric Motor Show (IEMS) 2021, themed "Innovation for Better Future e-Mobility," was held at the Management Building of BRIN's Research Organization for the Assessment and Application of Technology (OR-PPT), South Tangerang, Banten, on November 24-26, 2021.

This event is a form of support from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) for electric vehicle manufacturers to spur innovation and development in Indonesia.

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Translator: Indra P, Kenzu T
Editor: Suharto
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