France to help Indonesia developing its renewable energy
Thursday, June 6 2013 - 05:06 AM WIB
French government will provide Indonesia a grant to finance the development of its renewable energy.
"We haven?t yet decided the amount of the grant. We?ll have to discuss it first to find out what exactly the needs are,? said France?s Trade Minister Nicole Bricq after having a meeting with Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Nicole said that the France trade ministry and development ministry are ready to help Indonesia in carrying out projects, studies, and surveys on the development of renewable energy in Indonesia.
She pointed out that such a cooperation will be in line with the principle of the strategic partnership already pursued by both countries since 2011.
"The purpose of my visit to Indonesia is to strengthen this strategic partnership, and of course we need to discuss several projects concretely," she explained.
Asked whether both ministers also discuss about Mahakam Block operated by Total of France that will see contract ended in 2017, Jero Wacik said that they also discuss it but it was not their main topic. ?We discuss mostly about our bilateral cooperation and other projects,? he said.
The projects include nickel, geothermal, refinery plant, gas infrastructure, renewable energy, and new and unconventional energy sources.
Nicole?s visit to Indonesia is a reciprocal one as the Indonesian energy minister also visited France in July last year.
Editing by Benget Besalicto Tnb.