LombokPost – Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia, in its latest report titled “Women’s Perspectives on the Planning, Development, and Utilization of Electricity in Energy Transition Projects,” outlines the risks of an energy transition if it is not inclusive.
The report, prepared by Mouna Wasef and reviewed by Aryanto Nugroho and Hasrul Hanif, warns that the national energy transition process could increase the physical and psychological burdens on women if it does not prioritize gender-justice principles.
The study highlights that women, especially in rural areas, face significant barriers in accessing assets such as land and capital, which limits their ability to adapt to the energy transition.
Stereotypes in the division of labor result in women bearing a much greater domestic burden than men, thereby limiting their access to paid work, education, and training.
“The position of women in domestic work places them at the forefront of the energy transition, as they are the ones most affected by the negative impacts of fossil fuels, such as health risks from household air pollution caused by the use of firewood or traditional stoves,” the report states.
Failure to access clean energy also increases the risk of gender-based violence, particularly when women must travel long and dangerous distances to collect firewood.
PWYP Indonesia criticizes the “gender-blind” paradigm in energy infrastructure development.
The report finds that electricity planning often focuses solely on male-oriented needs, such as outdoor lighting and mobile phone charging.
In contrast, spaces where women’s activities take place—such as kitchens, toilets, and electricity for water pumps—are often not prioritized.
In addition, women’s participation in decision-making remains very limited because energy issues are often considered a male domain.
A just energy transition requires restructuring the energy system to prioritize social and economic justice, rather than merely fulfilling quotas for women’s participation in project proposals.
Despite the challenges, the energy transition also offers opportunities to dismantle gender-based power structures.
Targeted access to electricity can increase productivity and open up employment opportunities for women in non-agricultural sectors.
To achieve a truly just transition, PWYP Indonesia recommends several aspects.
An intersectional approach: recognizing that the challenges faced by different groups of women (Indigenous communities, the elderly, persons with disabilities) vary.
Meaningful participation: ensuring women’s involvement at every stage of planning through to the implementation of energy policies.
Social risk mitigation: training project implementers on gender equality and providing grievance mechanisms that are accessible to communities.
This report is expected to serve as an evaluation reference for the government in aligning strategic documents such as the Comprehensive Investment and Policy Plan (CIPP) JETP with the realities of the needs of vulnerable groups on the ground.
Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia is a civil society coalition that promotes democratic and inclusive governance in the energy and natural resource sectors to advance social and ecological justice.
Established in 2007 and officially registered as a legal entity in Indonesia in 2012 under the name Yayasan Transparansi Sumber Daya Ekstraktif, with registration number AHU-AH.01.06-0032012 (Updated), PWYP Indonesia consists of 31 civil society organizations at the national and regional levels.
These organizations play a role in representing public interests from a civil society perspective and in strengthening their capacity to contribute sustainably to the governance of energy and natural resources at the national, local, and global levels, thereby achieving social and ecological justice.
Source: Lombok post