Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ministry's coordinator for electricity environmental protection, Bayu Nugroho, has affirmed the ministry's commitment to supporting efforts to transition to new and renewable energy (EBT) to reduce pollution in Indonesia.

"The ESDM Ministry commits to this transition by supporting the green 2021–2030 Electricity Supply Business Plan formulated by PLN (state-owned electricity company)," he said at a webinar, which was followed online from Jakarta on Tuesday.

The ESDM Ministry will devise programs to implement the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and gradually shut down coal-fired power plants in a bid to achieve the government's target of 53 percent EBT use by 2030, he informed.

In doing so, the ministry will also take into account several factors, such as cheap energy, reasonable pricing, and required infrastructures for the transition.

The ministry is also striving to manage the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on air pollution by implementing steps through the carbon market, in accordance with the government's applicable regulations, he added.

Currently, the government is formulating regulations pertaining to clean energy use under the New and Renewable Energy Law (UU EBT), deliberations on which are expected to conclude by this year.

Furthermore, the government will also revise the existing Regional Energy Master Plan (RUED) policies to adjust to recent developments, including those related to technology and the 2060 net-zero emissions target.

Meanwhile, Fabby Tumiwa, executive director of the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), called upon the government to urge electricity companies to re-evaluate their plans to build new power plants and immediately take action to switch to EBT generators.

Such a transition is expected to significantly benefit the country in terms of economy, social affairs, and health.

During last year's G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia and the International Partners Group (IPG) signed a joint statement on the JETP, which requires the country to commit to capping its electricity sector emissions to an absolute figure of 290 million tons of carbon by 2030.

"In order to achieve this target, Indonesia should phase out around 9 gigawatts of coal-fired power plants in one decade," he stated.

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Translator: Sinta Ambarwati, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Sri Haryati
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