The energy source for the rechargeable vehicle batteries must also be the eco-friendly one.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - PT Pertamina (Persero) strives to support the energy transition program in Indonesia by targeting to install rooftop solar power plants at one thousand gas stations (SPBU) and develop the electric vehicle ecosystem.

President Director of the state-run oil and gas company Nicke Widyawati noted in a statement here on Wednesday that currently, her side has 143 SPBU with solar power plants or Green Energy Station (GES) SPBU.

"In 2022, we will increase the number of GES SPBU to reach one thousand. Later, in stages, all gas stations will be transformed into GES SPBU," she remarked.

The GES SPBU provides integrated services to support a more environmentally friendly lifestyle, such as by utilizing solar photovoltaic as an alternative and renewable energy source.

Pertamina aims to reduce carbon emissions by 34 thousand tons per year from the utilization of solar power plants in all of its gas stations.

The establishment of GES SPBU not only aims to support the decarbonization program but also to expedite the development of the electric vehicle ecosystem in Indonesia.

"The energy source for the rechargeable vehicle batteries must also be the eco-friendly one," the president director noted.

The state-owned oil and gas company had launched its collaboration with state-run Indonesia Battery Corporation (IBC) as well as several private companies, such as Gojek, Electrum, Gesits, and Gogoro, on February 22, 2022.

The collaboration aims to develop the electric vehicle ecosystem, for instance, by establishing pilot battery swapping stations.

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So far, the pilot service is only available at seven GES SPBU in South Jakarta: MT Haryono SPBU, Kuningan SPBU, Kemang SPBU, Gandaria City SPBU, Fatmawati SPBU, Permata Hijau SPBU, and Pondok Indah SPBU.

Currently, the pilot battery swapping stations can only serve 500 vehicles.

Hence, Pertamina is committed to improving the battery swapping station service, so it can be widely used by the public in future.

If the pilot project succeeds, the corporation will expand the service to be used by five thousand vehicles.

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Translator: Sugiharto Purnama, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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