Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto delivered the remarks after a closed-door meeting with Prabowo and several cabinet members at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta.
The meeting was also attended by Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi and Investment and Downstreaming Minister Rosan Roeslani.
“Universities are asked to support the acceleration of solar cells and solar power plants through research and studies,” Yuliarto told reporters after the meeting.
He said academic research and technological studies would play a key role in expanding renewable energy use, particularly solar power plants, which are expected to gradually replace costly diesel-based electricity generation.
The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry will coordinate the acceleration program, while universities will contribute scientific research and policy analysis to support implementation, Yuliarto said.
The president also urged faster adoption of electric vehicles to reduce Indonesia’s dependence on fossil fuels in the transportation sector.
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“The second priority is how to accelerate the conversion to electric vehicles, because diesel power plants and conventional vehicles depend on fuel,” the minister said.
In addition, Prabowo called for quicker adoption of electric stoves to reduce reliance on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and ease the burden of government energy subsidies.
Yuliarto said universities would step up research and innovation related to the three priorities under coordination with the energy ministry.
During the same meeting, Energy Minister Lahadalia announced the formation of an energy transition task force to accelerate the government’s clean energy programs.
Among the key initiatives is a plan to convert around 120 million conventional motorcycles into electric vehicles.
Prabowo has set a target for the programs to deliver optimal results within the next three to four years.
The task force will also support expansion of solar power generation capacity to as much as 100 gigawatts while developing effective policies to accelerate electric vehicle adoption and improve national energy efficiency.
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Translator: Fathur, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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