Indonesia Supports Interconnectivity Of Electric Power Transmission In Southeast Asia

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) supports cooperation between countries in creating interconnectivity of electric power transmission in the Southeast Asia region. The Director General of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Jisman Hutajulu appreciated the ASEAN Power Grid collaboration which will be carried out by the ASEAN Center for Energy (ACE) and The United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

This was conveyed by Jisman as the SOE Chair in the MoU Signing ACE – USAID on Southeast Asia Smart Power Program (SPP) session as part of the activities of the 41st ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) in Jakarta, Thursday.

“I would like to congratulate the implementation of ASEAN and United States (US) partners in supporting sustainable energy development in ASEAN,” said Jisman.

The signing of the MoU was carried out by the Main Director of ACE Nuki Agya Utama with the Chief of the Party of USAID Southeast Asia Smart Power Program (SPP) John Bruce Wells and witnessed by the Director General of Electricity of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Jisman Hutajulu as the SOE Chair. The collaboration between ACE and USAID covers the ASEAN Power Grid, Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline, Coal and Clean Coal Technology, Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Renewable Energy, and Regional Energy Policy and Planning programs in the ASEAN region.

Jisman continued that the diverse and abundant potential of energy resources in the ASEAN region must be utilized to meet increasing demand.

“Diverse and abundant energy resources in this region must be utilized and synergized to meet the region’s increasing needs. The potential for renewable energy is enormous, but there is a mismatch between demand and resources,” explained Jisman.

ACE President Director Nuki Agya Utama on the same occasion said that the collaboration between ACE and USAID is a joint effort to increase clean energy and as a climate mitigation effort.

“This collaboration with USAID SPP is critical to achieving our regional targets by 2025 and equipping ACE with the tools and resources needed to advance implementation of APAEC. Together, we will strive to increase clean and reliable electric power, reduce inefficiencies, improve air quality, and advance climate mitigation efforts,” said Nuki.

With this collaboration, Jisman hopes to optimize the development of renewable energy through interconnectivity to achieve energy security and accelerate the energy transition in ASEAN.

“Once again, I congratulate ACE and USAID through the Smart Power Program in supporting a more reliable energy system in the region. This will be a great start to achieving sustainable energy security and accelerating a just and inclusive energy transition in ASEAN,” Jisman closed.