The development of electric vehicles is part of a grand design for renewable energy transition that may offer Indonesia a solution to curb fuel oil imports and save state funds, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has said.

He made the remarks while inaugurating the first ultra-fast charging station in Badung, Bali, on Friday, state-owned electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) said in a written statement released on Saturday.

The electric vehicle charging station is expected to support operational vehicles for G20 delegates when Bali hosts the G20 Summit later this year.

The head of state noted that the country’s dependence on fuel oils and fossil energy has increasingly become higher, while much of its domestic fuel oil needs are still imported.

“(This) burdens our state budget, current account deficit, and trade deficit,” he said.

Indonesia must not let the dependence on fossil energy to continue, so the country must find ways to create energy self-reliance, he added.

The use of electric vehicles during the G20 Summit is one of the ways to prove Indonesia’s commitment to conduct energy transition, he said.

“(Indonesia’s) G20 Presidency is a very good chance for us to show various commitments to the reduction of CO2 emissions,” he added.

It is also a chance for Indonesia to showcase its commitment to remain at the forefront in the development of electric vehicles, Widodo said.

“Right from the upstream industry, which produces batteries and other components to the downstream industry, which provides electric vehicle charging and home charging stations, we want to show the world that the electric vehicle ecosystem in Indonesia is growing and developing rapidly,” he added.

Meanwhile, PLN president director Darmawan Prasodjo conveyed PLN’s preparedness to support the fuel oil-to-electric vehicle conversion program. The conversion program can reduce oil subsidies in the state budget, save foreign exchange, and create national energy self-reliance.

The program is also part of clean energy transition efforts for achieving the 2060 net-zero emissions target, he said.

According to PLN’s calculation, the program will potentially save Rp2,044 trillion in foreign exchange earnings the same year, he added.

“We stress that the electric vehicle ecosystem is not merely business-oriented but above all, the conversion will curb carbon emissions. This means that it offers an expectation of cleaner living space for our children and grandchildren,” he said.

To support the electric vehicle ecosystem, PLN is building additional electric vehicle charging stations in the country. By February 2022, the country had 267 electric vehicle charging stations in 195 different areas.

Of the total, PLN owns 120 electric vehicle charging stations in 92 areas.

Source: Antara News