Two Indonesian State Firms to Develop National Research Center for Energy

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia’s state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina and state electricity company Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) agreed to develop a research center namely Indonesia Energy and Electricity Institute (IEEI).

The IEEE aims to become the center for energy research on technological trends and their development, build a database for research and studies in the field of policy on the country’s natural resources. It also plays an active role in advocacy in drafting regulations in the energy sector from the Indonesian perspectives.

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“IEEI is expected to become national and regional thought leaders who can become the basis and reference for research in the energy and electricity sector in terms of technical research, policy and become a global platform for energy,” said Deputy State-Owned Enterprises Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin during the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Pertamina and PLN on Friday, November 13.

Budi stressed the need for energy companies to make a transition to survive. He hoped that Pertamina and PLN will survive the transition.

He also hoped that both companies can carry out a joint study and enhance the function of the research center by emphasizing current issues in transition, transformation, and digitalization of the energy sector.

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Pertamina president director Nicke Widyawati said that IEEI is expected to provide more views for the energy transition in the future.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the global energy transition so fast therefore Pertamina and PLN at the forefront of energy sector must collaborate to answer the challenge,” Nicke said.

In the beginning, Pertamina and PLN will work on matters related to research and technology. Going forward, PLN president director Zulkifli Zaini hoped that the IEEI could contribute to the development of the electricity and energy sector in Indonesia.

“The IEEI is expected to become a think tank that produces reports and research and contribute widely to the development of the electricity and energy sector in Indonesia,” Zulkifli said.

(Writer: Rully R. Ramli | Editor: Yoga Sukmana)

Source: https://money.kompas.com/read/2020/11/13/210200826/pertamina-dan-pln-akan-bangun-pusat-riset-energi-nasional.