Jero urges Japan to invest in RI?s renewable energy sector

By Godang Sitompul

Indonesia?s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik told his visiting counterpart from Japan that Indonesia for now could not meet Japan?s request for extra gas supply amid rising demand at home.

Jero, however, said that a proposed solution to help Japan gets more gas supply from Indonesia in the future is to encourage more Japanese investment in Indonesia?s new and renewable energy sector so that the Southeast Asia?s largest economy could secure its energy needs from the sector, and reallocate the gas supply to Japan.

Speaking to reporters following bilateral meetings with Japan, South Korea and the US during the 31 AMEM (Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting) in Bali, he said that the Japanese delegation supported the idea. ?If we have electricity supply from renewable energy sources, then the gas can be relaxed and shipped there (to Japan),? Jero said.

Elsewhere, Jero said that the US offered Indonesia transfer of technology for energy conservation, while Indonesia invited the US to invest in shale gas.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak