Switzerland wants to invest in RI renewable energy sector

By Febry Silaban

Investors from Switzerland have expressed interest to invest in Indonesia?s renewable energy sector including in setting up a manufacturing plant to produce solar panels.

Director General of New and Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Rida Mulyana said that the planned investment by the investors will be realized once the governments of Indonesia and Switzerland have signed MoU on the cooperation in the renewable energy sector, and an energy working group has been set up.

Rida was speaking to reporters on Thursday following a meeting with visiting Vice President of Switzerland Doris Leuthard, who is also minister for energy and environment. Eight businessmen from Switzerland were also present in the meeting. He said that cooperation between the two countries will also include exchange of information in the renewable energy sector and learning process.

?The eight businessmen are interested on our potential. They will not only sell products, but also set up the manufacturing facility (here),? Rida said, adding that the businesses were also interested to invest in renewable-based power plants to support the Indonesian government program to light up villages.

Swiss gets more than 90 percent of its electricity supply from renewable sources.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak