President Jokowi chairs meeting to discuss 35,000 MW power plants in Indonesia

Jakarta, June 25 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi, led a limited cabinet meeting to discuss the development of power plants, with a capacity to produce 35 thousand megawatts (MW) of electricity. "I want to hear the report on the project regarding the construction of power plants, with a combined capacity of 35 thousand MW of electricity from the energy and mineral resources minister, state-owned enterprises minister, and PLN president director," Jokowi stated during a meeting at the Presidential Office here on Thursday. The meeting was attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, PLN President Director Sofyan Basir, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Indroyono Susilo, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Sofyan Djalil, and National Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti. Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said, State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno, Deputy Finance Minister Mardiasmo, and Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya also attended the meeting. In May, President Jokowi launched a program to build power plants to produce 35 thousand MW of electricity. The project related to the construction of power plants, with a combined capacity of 35 thousand MW of electricity, is expected to be realized within the next five years and will spread across 240 locations in Indonesia. The program will require an investment of Rp 110 trillion. The president is of the viewpoint that the project will support Indonesia to achieve energy independence. The president pointed out that in the past 70 years, Indonesia had only managed to build plants, with a combined capacity of 50 thousand MW of electricity. "I am optimistic, and the project can be realized," the president affirmed. The president stated that management of the state-owned electricity company (PLN) has been revamped, and the licensing process will be simplified. "If there is a problem regarding land acquisition, please report the matter to the governor who will help to solve the problem," the president remarked. Earlier, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman remarked that 10 thousand MW will be produced by PLN and the remaining 25 thousand MW by the private sector to meet the demand of 35 thousand MW in the next five years. The 35 thousand MW program needs to be realized, as Indonesia's oil reserves will deplete within 20 years, natural gas within 30 years, and coal within 50 years.