RI opposes proposed ASEAN coal trade cooperation
Wednesday, September 25 2013 - 04:55 AM WIB
Indonesia, the world?s largest exporter of thermal coal, has rejected the proposed ASEAN coal trade cooperation considering that the country would merely become a supplier while most other member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as buyers, said Edi Prasodjo, Director for Coal Business Development at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
?This (intra-regional coal trade) should be based on business to business market mechanism. If it?s formalized to become coal trade cooperation, clearly we don?t agree,? Edi told Petromindo.com Wednesday on the sidelines of the opening of the 31st ASEAN Energy Ministers Meeting in Bali.
He added that Indonesia has a domestic market obligation (DMO) policy which must be maintained for 100 years to ensure coal supply at home. He said that Indonesia supports the idea for ASEAN to develop electricity inter connection network.
The meeting was opened by Vice President Boediono. Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik said that the AMEM gathering forms part of efforts to diversify into new renewable energy sources, cut down dependency on fossil-based fuels, and to help achieve energy efficiency.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak