Minister supports push for renewable energy to meet Bali’s energy demand

Energy Minister Ignasius Jonan. Photo: Kementerian ESDM
Energy Minister Ignasius Jonan. Photo: Kementerian ESDM

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan this week suggested that Bali should produce 350 megawatts (MW) of electricity from renewable energy sources to meet its future energy demand. 

According to a statement issued by his ministry, Jonan laid out Bali’s future energy challenge during a visit to the Bali Governor’s office on Wednesday. Officials estimate that Bali will require as much as 2,000 MW of electricity by 2025, which is about 700 MW more than the current energy demand. 

“…As Bali will require an additional 700 MW, 350 MW should be built in Bali, while another 350 MW should be supplied from Java,” Ignasius said, as quoted in the statement. 

He also expressed his hopes that the additional 350 MW could be completely sourced from renewable energy. 

“I think solar panels have huge potential in Bali. Other than that, diesel-powered generators should not run on diesel, but crude palm oil, whicht can also be considered a renewable source of energy,” Ignasius said. 

Talk of renewable energy powering Bali is not exactly new. The topic has been gaining momentum over the past year, with the provincial government reportedly working on a gubernatorial  regulation on clean energy. The regulation will be aimed at boosting the island’s energy capacity through alternative sources, including through a prohibition on the development of new coal-fired power plants. 

Previously, an official from state electricity company PLN said the company would build a solar power plant on the island soon, with a capacity of 50 megawatts (MW). 

Power has always been a tricky issue in Bali, which currently gets most of its energy supplied from Java. In September 2018, Bali experienced an islandwide blackout after an electrical interference incident occurred at an electric steam power plant (PLTU) in Pacitan, East Java.



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