Palu – Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia, together with IDEA Yogyakarta, conducted a training “Strengthening the Role of Civil Society Organization (CSO) in Encouraging Just Energy Transition through EITI Implementation in Central Sulawesi” on January 16, 2022. The training aims to Strengthen the knowledge, capacity, and awareness of CSOs, especially in Central Sulawesi, on the impact of energy transition and extractive industries and the importance of just energy transition at the regional level. Dissemination and follow-up of the study “Community Involvement in Just Energy Transition through EITI Implementation in North Morowali District.” Strengthening CSO networking strategies to formulate joint solutions in improving natural resource governance and realizing equitable energy transition, especially for the community, and Formulating advocacy strategies for EITI institutionalization in the region.

The online training facilitated by Tenti Kurniawati, Executive Director of IDEA Yogyakarta, and Ibrahim Fahmy Badoh, Researcher of PWYP Indonesia, was attended by participants from CSO representatives in Central Sulawesi such as KoMIU Central Sulawesi, JATAM Central Sulawesi, KPPA Central Sulawesi, Sikola Mombine, WALHI Central Sulawesi, Solidaritas Perempuan Palu, Yayasan Tanah Merdeka, and others and also attended by Civil Society Representatives in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives (EITI) Indonesia Implementation Team.

This training is part of the “Engaging Communities in a Just Transition through EITI Implementation” program, a collaboration between Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia and IDEA Yogyakarta with the support of the International EITI Secretariat. This program supports civil society and local communities to better understand, discuss, address, and prepare for the impacts of energy transition in extractive industry-dependent communities in resource-dependent areas.

This training began with the delivery of Fahmy Badoh regarding the scoping study results, which emphasized the challenges of mining-producing areas. Such as North Morowali Regency, in utilizing opportunities for regional development and growth by mining activities while seeking improvements in fairer and environmentally sound mining governance, within the framework of an equitable energy transition. Some scooping study findings were presented, including those at the community level who still need to learn about the energy transition issues; communities around the mine need to know more about various regulations related to mining governance or energy transition, including those related to the energy transition.

Mining governance or energy transition, including the lack of involvement in policy formulation; communities around the mine, need to learn more about production volume or production value information; tax or non-tax revenues, revenue sharing funds, and others.

Tenti then introduced the basic energy transition concept and the EITI initiative in Indonesia. Also discussed was the importance of involving and increasing the role of the community, especially women and other vulnerable groups in the mining sector, in the energy transition framework and the importance of institutionalizing EITI at the regional level, which can be a way to improve mining governance in the region.

This training also produced some actions and recommendations as a form of expected follow-up. Among them is the strengthening of the network to oversee the energy transition, including the need to expand the socialization of EITI reports to the regions, including areas around mines or renewable energy projects. The need to strengthen the substance of EITI reports that are more comprehensive, adding data and information needed by the public in platforms such as Minerba One Data Indonesia (MoDI); Expansion of socialization of the implementation of Law Number 1/2022 concerning Central and Regional Financial Relations (HKPD Law). The need for dashboards related to the calculation of Minerba sector revenues (RKAB, land rent, royalties, compensation funds, reforestation, PSDH-DR, Forest Utilization Business License Fees, Watershed rehabilitation funds); encouraging social audits for mining activities (company obligations and impact mitigation); and institutionalizing reconciliation forums with mining companies and companies that develop renewable energy.

In the aspect of developing a community-strengthening design for access to information and participation through a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform, the expected follow-up includes encouraging active involvement of residents through community meetings (Dasawisma, women’s groups, RT meetings, Karang Taruna, and others.); Maximizing the village musrenbang forum with special discussions on mining and energy transition issues (thematic musrenbang); Publishing posters and infographics, brochures, notable information newspapers on EIA or other information using local languages, which are posted in strategic places in the village and distributed directly to residents; Utilizing social media channels Facebook infomorut, infoMorowali and other media channels; Developing a village information system; and Utilizing announcement media in worship facilities (mosques, churches).

Furthermore, participants were introduced to and discussed the implementation of the EITI initiative in Indonesia and its impact. At the same time, discussing the importance of involving and increasing the role of women in mining and the importance of institutionalizing EITI at the regional level, which can be a way to improve mining governance in the region. (AN)