Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government is promoting energy transition through a gasification program that converts diesel engine power plants to gas-powered ones, with total capacity of 2,269 megawatts (MW), the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) stated.

"This gasification program targets 27 power plants, with a total capacity of 2,269 MW," ESDM Ministry's Director General of Electricity, Jisman Hutajulu, noted in a statement received from the ministry here on Friday.

He remarked that the ESDM Ministry has been under discussion with the State-owned Enterprises Ministry and state-run electricity company PT PLN to formulate strategies to implement the gasification program that is also aimed at enhancing the efficiency of electricity supply.

Hutajulu noted that the ESDM Ministry had continued to attract investors to take part in the implementation of the gasification program while emphasizing that the program can greatly benefit Indonesia and meet its needs for electricity supply.

The gasification program is expected to help Indonesia break free from its reliance on fossil-based fuel and successfully transition to using more clean energy.

He further explained that gas engine power plants can help the country reduce its needs for imported oil, maintain trade balance, stimulate economic growth in regions, fulfill its commitment to the Paris Agreement, and achieve the energy mix target outlined in the National Energy Policy.

To that end, he affirmed that the government is striving to implement the gasification program to 25 existing power plants, with a total capacity of 999 MW, one power plant of 120 MW under construction, and one power plant of 1,150 MW being planned for construction.

He also noted that the government is grouping the targeted power plants in several clusters, namely Sulawesi-Maluku Huadi, Nusa Tenggara, northern Papua, and southern Papua.

The director general then stated that the ESDM Ministry would continue to monitor progress made in the program's implementation while coordinating with PLN to adjust the need for gas expected to increase during the period from December 2024 to late 2026.

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Translator: Kelik D, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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