After being vacant for almost two months, and held by the task implementer, Luhut B Pandjaitan, finally President Joko Widodo appointed Ignasius Jonan, occupying the position of Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Friday (10/14/16). While Arcandra Tahar, who had been the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources a few days before being honorably dismissed by the President, sat as Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources. What was the response of environmental activists?
Nur Hidayati, Executive Director of National Walhi, said that whoever the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources must be able to bring a paradigm shift in the development of the energy sector and mineral resources in Indonesia.
“In the future, ESDM must be able to lead Indonesia towards clean and low-carbon development that is no longer based on fossil energy sources,” he said in Jakarta, Friday (10/14/16).
In the energy sector, he said, as the government’s target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 29% to 2030 in order to reduce the impact of climate change, it is important to accelerate renewable energy.
“This is to meet the electricity needs of the community, especially those who live in remote and border areas and foremost islands,” he said.
He considered, renewable energy must have its own policies or rules. When comparing with other energy sources, there are laws that regulate, for example, the Oil and Gas Law, the Coal Mineral Law, and the Geothermal Law.
“Renewable energy has no specific policies to support it. The government and the House of Representatives need to make a special law encouraging the acceleration of renewable energy, and opening barriers and policy barriers, especially fiscal barriers, and encouraging greater investment in renewable energy, “he said.
The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, he said, must also be brave in fighting the fossil energy mafia that has so far enjoyed huge state subsidies and hindered the move towards renewable energy sources based on sovereignty.
The impact of coal, between current conditions and future forecasts when a 35,000 mW coal project is realized. Can the Jonan era, can think more environmentally sensitive and reduce coal energy? Source: Greenpeace
Not only that. In the mineral resources sector, he said, Jonan must be brave against corporate desires in quickly extracting natural resources and exporting raw materials.
“Mineral reserves for the future strategic needs of the country must be ensured, while ensuring corporate responsibility in rehabilitating and neutralizing formerly damaged and heavily polluted ex-mining areas,” said Yaya, his nickname.
For this reason, he said, MEMR must improve governance, among others, first, bureaucratic reform, and clearing ministries from the mafia of natural resources. Second, licensing review that has begun since the KPK korsup and law enforcement. Third, transparency to the public licensing and territory – extractive corporation concession areas.
Arif Fiyanto, Coordinator of the Greenpeace Southeast Asia Climate and Energy Campaign also responded to the new ESDM Minister. He said Minister Jonan’s homework was to improve energy and mineral resource management.
At present, the government still sees energy and mineral resources as merely drivers of economic growth. As a result, the economy is truly supported by fossil energy.
“This is dangerous. Experience in many countries, countries that are highly dependent on the fossil fuel economy will be very vulnerable to the impact of commodity fluctuations, “he said.
For this reason, he said, Jonan must have a clear vision of how to achieve energy sovereignty without sacrificing the environment and climate.
At present, the government is still fixated on fossil fuels such as coal, in the fulfillment of national energy. In fact, this energy source has a negative impact on the environment, health and climate.
He urged, Jonan is serious about encouraging and supporting the development of renewable energy in Indonesia. “Minister Jonan must be able to be a good and firm conductor in the implementation of national energy policies. Jonan must be able to work closely with PLN, so that they comply with the targets and policies set by the government. ”
William Sabandar, former Chairman of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources’s New and Renewable Energy Development Acceleration Team, evaluated Jonan’s election positively by seeing the experience, commitment and capacity of the minister so far in building a better Indonesia in the future.
He hopes that Jonan can continue to build a clean sector, free from mafia practices and corruption. “Certainly looking at the overall development of our energy, which hopes can focus on renewable energy,” he said.
The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Sudirman Said, in order to strengthen the affairs of renewable energy, there is a special team called the Renewable Energy Development Acceleration Team in the MEMR. This team was just circumcised by the Acting Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Luhut B Pandjaitan.
Tri Mumpuni, a figure driving the development of renewable energy for people in remote areas, said Jonan’s work was a lot to develop renewable energy. Especially, he said, energy access for remote communities with renewable energy. “Energy justice for all Indonesian people must be opened,” said the woman from the Institute for Business and Economic Democracy.
According to him, the rural electricity program by involving the community, and community assistance by competent scholars. It also makes electricity by looking at the potential energy available in that area.
Pessimist
Meanwhile, Melky Nahar, Head of the Campaign for the Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam), is pessimistic about the selection of Jonan as Minister of HR, which will have a significant effect on improving ESDM governance to reduce the rate of environmental damage and the safety of the people affected by mining and energy.
Jonan’s election, he said, has a connection with the commodity transportation infrastructure in the RPJMN – by looking at the background he has. He said, coal rail infrastructure and a special coal port.
Not only that. Jatam rate, Jokowi carelessly chose to return Achandra Tahar. “He recommended the extension of PT Freeport’s concentrate exports.”
So, he said, it was clear, Achandra’s position represented the interests of the company together with the Acting Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Luhut B Pandjaitan who wanted to revise PP No. 1 of 2014.
Hindun Mualaika, Greenpeace Indonesia’s Climate and Energy Campaigner, said that, despite having no professional issues in the energy sector, Jonan’s performance was quite good when he occupied the position of Minister of Transportation.
“This chaotic ESDM governance requires strong leadership and strong coordination as well. Energy issues are quite technical, detailed and varied. Jonan needs to learn fast. ”
Energy, he said, also played a role in Indonesia’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions in the world. Unfortunately, Indonesian leaders still lack political will towards clean energy.
Indeed, he said, moving from fossil energy to renewable was not an easy matter. For this reason, he said, synergy between related ministries was needed, such as the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry and others.
He hoped that Jonan was independent and could not drive industrial interests. “This energy has enormous political interests,” he said.
Hindun asked, Jonan had a clear vision in developing energy in Indonesia and was wise in responding to the 35,000 MW project. “So far the impact has never been seen from the social, environmental, health and other external aspects. Hopefully this project can still be revised.”
Maryati Abdullah, National Publishers What You Pay suspect, Jokowi wants to improve the oil and gas transportation system by appointing Jonan. “Improving the industrial sector is indeed needed,” he said.
Before becoming Minister of Transportation, Jonan sat as Managing Director of PT Bahana Business Development Indonesia (Persero), PT KAI and Citibank. This management ability, may be combined with the knowledge of the Deputy Minister, Archandra Tahar.
“For governance management and encourage accountability of oil and gas and mining companies,” he said.
He hopes that the improvement of ESDM governance can be completed in the last three years of Jokowi’s leadership. “The roadmap already exists, it continues to run consistently. Don’t make it new, “he said.
The Ministry of ESDM, he said, needed to strengthen energy downstreaming, and curbing IUPs which often clashed with regional authorities.
Meanwhile, knowledge of energy security and utilization of new energy, he said, was not very well understood by Jonan. In addition, Archandra has a role in the oil and gas industry, so it is likely that it cannot be firm on industry players and entrepreneurs in this sector.
In Media , Media Covergae | PWYP Indonesia | October 17th, 2016