Government to issue regulation on energy conservation program

The government will issue a regulation on energy conservation in a bid to further curb the sharp increase in the use of fuel and electricity in the country, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Thursday.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla said that the energy conservation program had been adopted by many countries including Malaysia and Singapore as part of the national programs to reduce the use of fuel and electricity.

"In the current situation, the people should also bear the impact of the increase in oil prices, including the reduction of the fuel subsidy," he said. "We should also carry out a national energy saving program," he added.

Meanwhile Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said in Jakarta on Wednesday that the issuance of a regulation to support the national energy conservation program had been discussed in the cabinet.

According to him, the regulation will among others regulate the use of fuel in industrial activities. Power plants and certain industries should for example use gas or coal so that the use of the fuel can be reduced, the minister said. (*)