Indonesia, Austria signs MoU on hydropower cooperation
Monday, May 5 2014 - 07:51 AM WIB
The governments of Indonesia and Austria have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate in infrastructure technology for hydropower plants.
The MoU was signed on Monday by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) Jero Wacik and Austria?s Federal Minister of Transportation, Innovation and Technology Doris Bures, the MEMR said in a statement.
Both governments entered into the MoU on a common perception that renewable energy is necessary to support the economic growth and development.
The MoU covers but is not limited to items as follows:
1. Promoting and increasing investment in hydropower infrastructure technology
2. Promoting transfer of hydropower technology
3. Promoting dialogs on hydropower development policy
4. Exchanging experiences and implementation of hydropower technology
5. Promoting scientific and technical cooperation
6. Promoting joint study, education, training, workshops on certain projects
7. Exploring cooperation opportunities in renewable energy for the future
The MoU will be executed by the Directorate General of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation of the MEMR and the Expert Staff Group for Technology and Security Research at Austria?s Federal Ministry of Transportation, Innovation and Technology, the ministry said.
The signing of the MoU was a follow up to the courtesy call paid by Austria?s Ambassador to Indonesia Andreas Karabaczek on Jero on Jan. 16, 2014, in which the ambassador proposed cooperation between both countries on hydropower development. Jero warmly welcome the proposal in view of the fact that Austria is very experienced in hydropower development.
The MEMR then started formulating the concept of the MoU together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.
Prior to the signing of the MoU, Indonesia and Austria once signed a cooperation agreement in energy sector, the ministry said. On Sept 10, 2007, the MEMR?s Education and Training Center (Badiklat) and Austria?s Loeben University signed in Vienna an ?arrangement? to cooperate in human resources development for mineral resources, oil engineering, and renewable energy.
As part of the implementation of the cooperation arrangement, the Loeben University provided master and doctoral programs, short courses for Indonesians. Loeben University and Badiklat also exchanged experts on oil engineering, mining, energy, management, economy and information technology. The university also provided competent exports as speakers for national and international seminars organized by Badiklat. The university also agreed to conduct a joint research on energy, particularly geothermal energy and efficient power plant system.
One of the Austrian energy companies active in Indonesia is Andritz Hydro, which is a global leading hydropower plan developer. The firm is developing the PLTA Cirata hydropower plant in West Java, which once completed will become Indonesia?s largest hydropower plant.
Editing by Johannes Simbolon