Fuel oil contribution in power generation declines, as renewables rise

The contribution of fuel oil has continued to decline in the country?s power generation sector as the contribution of renewables such as hydro continues to rise, according to the latest study by the Directorate General of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

The ministry said in a statement issued on Sunday that in the third quarter of 2017, fuel oil (including biofuel mixed with fuel oil) accounted for only 6.06 percent of the primary energy mix in power generation, down compared to 7.10 percent in the same period of last year. This is sharply down from 11.81 percent in 2014, and 36 percent in 2008.

Meanwhile, as per third quarter of 2017, renewables accounted for around 12.51 percent of the energy mix, up from 11.21 percent in 2014.

Elsewhere, the statement said that electricity output from hydro power plants has reached 13,593 GWh, from geothermal 9,324 GWh, and from other renewable technologies 456 GWh.

The government is pushing for the development of renewable power plants in the country in a bid to meet its target for renewables to account for up to 23 percent of the energy mix by 2025.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak