RI, S. Korea seek to bolster cooperation in energy sector

Indonesia and South Korea concluded a two-day annual gathering last week in Seoul, setting up plans to further expand cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector.

The Indonesian Directorate General of Oil and Gas said in a statement Tuesday that the 9th Indonesia-Korea Energy Forum (IKEF) and the 6th Indonesia-Korea Joint Working Group on gas were concluded on September 8.

The statement that following the meeting, South Korea?s KOGAS announced plan to carryout coal bed methane (CBM) study in Indonesia in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources? oil and gas institute Lemigas, with the possibility also for a cooperation in the development of EOR technology.

Other results of the IKEF, which was started in 2006 to bolster cooperation between private sectors of the two countries in the energy sector, include cooperation in energy sector safety management, planned power plant projects in Cirebon (West Java), South and Central Kalimantan, and Bali, and in human resources development and research.

Head of the South Korea and Indonesia delegations also discussed possible cooperation in the area of clean energy, and small-scale LNG, and agreed to set up a task-force to realize the plans, the statement said.

The delegation leaders also signed MoU on comprehensive cooperation in energy safety management system, and will set up a task force to follow up the agreement.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak