Environmental experts and activists in Indonesia are urging the competing presidential and vice-presidential candidates in the 2024 elections to carefully review bioenergy policies in the overall energy transition plan in Indonesia. On Wednesday (10/01/2024), the stage of Indonesia’s energy transformation took the spotlight in the media discussion “Exploring Bioenergy in the Hands of Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates 2024-2029”. Moderated by Pradipta Pandu, a senior journalist from Kompas, the discussion featured several expert speakers, namely Irvan Pulungan (National Team of Presidential Candidate Anies Baswedan – Muhaimin Iskandar), Drajad Wibowo (Spokesperson Team of Presidential Candidate Prabowo Subianto – Gibran Rakabuming Raka), and Agus Hermanto (Expert Council of Presidential Candidate Ganjar Pranowo – M. Mahfud MD), who discussed strategic steps to accelerate the transition towards clean energy. Meanwhile, expert panelists namely Tommy Pratama (Executive Director of Traction Energy Asia), Amalya Reza Oktaviani (Bioenergy Program Manager, Trend Asia), and Anggi Putra Prayoga (Campaign, Advocacy, and Media Manager, Forest Watch Indonesia) provided in-depth insights into environmental-friendly solutions that uphold justice and community welfare.

This discussion provided recommendations for formulating energy policies for the elected president and vice president for the years 2024-2029. All hopes are focused on Indonesia attempts to successfully accomplishing the energy transition agenda, that is positively impacting the environment and enhancing community welfare. The discussion began with an evaluation over the outcomes of COP 28 in Dubai, highlighting global agreements and Indonesia’s ambitious targets in energy transition. “At COP 28, there was a global commitment to reduce emissions from the use of fossil-fuels and move towards sustainability, because the climate crisis has critically threatened human existence on earth. Moreover, Indonesia’s position as the 8th largest carbon emitter in the world has driven our country an urgent transition to low-carbon energy,” explained Tommy Pratama, Executive Director of Traction Energy Asia. The discussion started by unraveling the complexity of global climate challenges and emphasizing the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy transition. According to Tommy, bioenergy emerges as a potential solution, yet Indonesia’s potential has yet to be fully realized.

The Anies – Muhaimin Presidential Candidate Success Team responded positively, emphasizing sustainability and ecological justice through five transition pillars. “The key to achieving this, is through a collaborative and participatory approach from the community, based on the 5 energy transition pillars: (1) a holistic and sustainable governance, (2) collaboration among stakeholder groups, (3) funding innovations, (4) a just energy transition, and (5) supply and demand interventions,” they said. On the other hand, the Prabowo-Gibran Success Team highlighted the ongoing efforts since 2010 in developing bioethanol and biofuels, with an emphasis on practical reality and efficiency. Meanwhile the Ganjar – Mahfud Success Team highlighted five clear stages toward the energy transition, namely (1) rapid elimination of diesel use, (2) prohibition of new coal-fired power plants, (3) gradual reduction of alternatives for the operations of the existing coal-fired power plants, (4) acceleration of renewable energy production and development (prioritize solar, wind, and then bioenergy), (5) consolidation of the energy villages with local EBT potentials (mini-hydro, solar with lithium batteries, and utilization of geothermal). Moderator Pradipta Pandu concluded the session by emphasizing the importance of ending deforestation and highlighting bioenergy as a bridge between land and energy issues, as well as the need for a clear timeframe for transition to clean energy, ending dependence on fossil fuels, and achieving sustainability according to the global vision shared at the COP 28.

Tommy also discussed comprehensive emission calculations related to biofuel production, explaining the complete cycle from forest and land clearing to end-use. He also raised a challenge when the energy transition would be completed and fully replaced by clean energy. Meanwhile, Amalya criticized the government’s efforts to date, calling it ineffective solutions to reduce emissions. Instead, the government is suggested to pay higher attention to the ecological, economical, and social justice in a sustainable energy framework. The Prabowo-Gibran Success Team responded with practical view acknowledging the complexity of energy transition and emphasizing the need for economic and sustainable solutions. The Anies – Muhaimin Success Team on one hand reminded the importance of environmental audits and the discontinuation of coal-fired power plants for co-firing. In the same occassion, the Ganjar – Mahfud Success Team emphasized the need for a more careful CPO management and expressed support towards the optimization of geothermal use as a more economical energy source.

The second session provided deep insights into a sound and just energy transition, with focus on potential innovations and sustainability. Anggi described the impact of energy transition on forests and lands in Indonesia, highlighting a structured and planned deforestation with interventions by large companies, especially in the utilization of biomass for co-firing. Social forestry is said to also threatened by potential deforestation. The Ganjar – Mahfud Success Team responded by affirming that bioenergy is not the first choice and highlighting the losses of co-firing from energy forests. They suggested new technologies and emphasized the importance of lithium battery development. In their response, the Anies – Muhaimin Success Team provided concrete solutions by planning a deforestation threshold, especially for palm oil land. They emphasized the need for an in-depth analysis on palm oil land sufficiency.

Critical questions from journalists were raised around the flagship programs of the candidates; related to their timeframe, budget, and funding sources. The Ganjar – Mahfud Success Team provided a detailed response, affirming an appropriate timeline for their program. They also reflected the candidate’s vision and mission in the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), showing commitment to a comprehensive planning. In the subsequent Q&A session, the Ganjar – Mahfud Success Team emphasized the need for the government to perform the role as a mediator to ensure SOEs, including Pertamina, achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Similar to the other team, the Anies – Muhaimin Success Team also indicated the importance of calculation, planning, and the government’s role in ensuring SOEs like Pertamina supports clean and renewable energy goals.

Before the closure of the fruitful discussion, Tommy firmly stated that energy transition is not a choice, but a necessity with a deadline. Amalya emphasized the need for a comprehensive energy transition involving governance compliance and improvements in forest and land management. Anggi highlighted the importance of managing energy, food, and water wisely, placing the community as the primary subject of policies, and not as object or as target market. Pandu closed the session by stating that energy transition must prioritize justice and benefit to all elements of the society.

This exchanges was hoped to serve as a foundation for future leaders to design sustainable and just energy transition policies. Indonesia, with its abundance natural resources, has the potential to lead in the global energy transition. However, it requires awareness, cooperation, and concrete actions from all relevant parties. The discussion not only proves the success of ID COMM’s event organization and communication strategies, but also reflect ID COMM’s continuous involvement in the topic, offering solutions for environmental issues, and walk the ID COMM’s talk “For the Betterment of Indonesia.”

Author: Agil Asmoaji
Editor: Riska Fiati