Brazil Ready To Assist RI In Developing Bio Ethanol Production

Nusa Dua, Bali, June 13 (Antara) - Brazil is ready to assist Indonesia in developing bio ethanol production as an alternative energy to reduce it`s dependency on fossil fuel, Undersecretary -General for Political Affairs from the Ministry of External Relations Maria Edileuza Fontenele Reis said here on Thursday. "Depending on fossil fuel is no longer effective. You need alternative energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuel and, at the same time, save the environment. Discussion between Brazil and Indonesian government about development of bio ethanol is underway. We are ready to assist Indonesia, but it all depends on Indonesian government to gather stakeholders and develop this concept," she said on the sideline of the 6th Foreign Ministers Meeting of Forum for East Asia and Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) held in Nusa Dua, Bali, starting June 13 to 14. She explained Brazil has been successful in developing biofuel production particularly in turning sugar cane into ethanol. Reis mentions about the possibility of Indonesia to develop the same technology as its type of soil is quite similar to Brazil`s. Earlier Indonesia`s former Deputy Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources now Chief of Upstream Oil Regulatory Body (SKK Migas) Rubi Rubiandini said the country has in abundance renewable energy resources but largely left untapped. "Renewable energy resources account only for 5 percent of the country`s energy mix," she said adding that high cost of exploitations and inadequate infrastructure to support development of the resources and to link the production and the market centers are among reasons that cause little exploitation of bio energy in Indonesia. The government, therefore, continue to rely more on oil and gas and coal to meet the domestic energy demand, he said. The government will continue to encourage development of renewable energy sources, he said, adding, currently renewable energy no longer serves an alternative energy but has become an important part of energy mix. The government is set to increase the contribution of renewable energy to 17 percent in 2025. "We are now developing solar energy, geothermal energy, water energy, biofuel, wind energy and sea wave energy," hes aid. The country, which lies on the ring of fire, has big reserves of geothermal accounting for 40 percent of the world`s reserves . "Only 1,341 megawatts have been developed into electricity from the total reserves of 29,215 Megawatts," he said. He said the government has made a breakthrough in the development of renewable energy such as with the Feed in Tariff (FIT) regulation to develop biomass, garbage and geothermal energy. FIT in geothermal sector is 10-18.5 US cents per Kwh depending on areas, he said. "Acceleration is needed to expand development of renewable energy," he said.