EMIL SALIM : RI NEEDS TO HAVE ENERGY DIVERSIFICATION PROGRAM

Jakarta, March 6 (ANTARA) - Indonesia's noted economist Prof Emil Salim has said Indonesia needs to design an energy diversification program soon for the sake of the country's economic future.

"In the next 20 years, our oil reserves will be depleted. If we don't make an energy diversification plan now, we will have a difficult future," Salim, a former environmental affairs minister, said here on Thursday.
Indonesia had various energy resources such as gas, coal, wind power, solar energy, river currents, and geothermal which could be used, he said.
"It's quite ironic that we have the world's second largest geothermal power resource, but they have not been used so far," he said.
He also noted that Indonesia had many rivers which could be developed for hydro power, in order to reduce state electricity company PLN's dependence on gas and oil, he said.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the National Oil and Gas Companies' Association (Aspermigas), Effendi Siradjuddin, said that in the oil and gas sector, Indonesia did not have a blueprint which could secure the country's energy needs.
"More than 50 percent of the oil and gas sector are in the hand of foreign companies. This can endanger our energy resilience," he said.
He said Indonesia must have a blueprint on energy management because the need for oil and gas could trigger conflict and destabilize the country.
"Imagine if we continue to have to import oil and gas, and then one day we could not meet the demands for oil and gas. Within three days, for example, all gas stations in Central Java don't get any supply. I believe it could cause a conflict," he said.
Siradjuddin also stated that Indonesia must be capable of managing its own oil and gas energy resources for the sake of the people's welfare.