Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will make hydrogen a contributor to accelerating the energy transition in Indonesia.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif in his statement here on Wednesday (Feb. 23) said hydrogen has an important role in decarbonizing the energy system.

"Hydrogen is expected to be one of the contributors to the energy transition and pay an important role in decarbonizing the global energy system," he said.

Arifin pointed out that there are a number of challenges in developing hydrogen, including how to make this chemical element economically viable, financially attractive, and beneficial to people.

The ministry will continue to follow trends in hydrogen technologies and open opportunities to collaborate with all relevant parties, he said.

From a supply perspective, hydrogen development is one of Indonesian government's main strategies in a roadmap to carbon neutrality by 2060.

"The main strategy that will be carried out towards carbon neutrality on the supply side is by massively developing renewable energy resources, focusing on solar, hydro and geothermal power plants, as well as hydrogen," Arifin said.

The ministry plans to incorporate hydrogen into the industrial and transportation sectors, without using fuel cell technology, but internal combustion technology commonly used by motorized vehicles.

Meanwhile, from the demand side, the government is implementing energy management, promoting electric stoves and accelerating the use of battery-based electric motorized vehicles.

One of these efforts is establishing an agreement with the Korean government on a pilot project of a charging system for electric vehicles.

Currently, Indonesia is developing a simulation of a long-term strategy towards zero emissions by 2060, as the country’s commitment in the Paris Agreement to achieve reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 29 percent by 2030 and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of 314 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Reporting by Indonesia Window