Friday, February 8, 2008

Supporting Indonesia’s International Investment Summit 2007, JCC 5-7 November, Jakarta

Indonesia’s International Investment Summit 2007

Revitalizing The Energy and Mining Sectors

(click here for list of all speakers and agenda)

A big applaud and a wish for success for the committee who initiated another international event–and more likely on specific sectors like energy and mining. And here are some facts I quoted from Geographical World Reference, published by Periplus Editions (HK) Limited: “Coal, petroleum, and natural gas provide energy supplies, and in recent decades, uranium has provided the basis for nuclear energy… [T]he greatly increased use of minerals by the developed countries, and the increasing use by newly industrialized countries, has led to concerns about there being adequate mineral supplies for the future. Substitution of new materials for metals and the search for new or renewable energy sources–such as solar power or wind generation–are amongst the developments aimed at conserving our mineral resources.”

uranium is there

Two things I would like to hightlight beforehand: uranium and solar- or wind-generated energies. Global controversies around uranium (its waste and nuclear war weaponry issues arisen in North Korea or Afghanistan or Iran) has held up the potential alternative energy in Indonesia. On the other hand, solar- or wind-generated production is hurdled by lack of technology or innovation strategy–even if importing the technology is considered as one strategy. It is the unquestionable price that would make Indonesia pushed aside.

waste/dumped truck

Solar generator

T.J. Rodgers of SunPower aimed to develop large-scales solar farms in remote, sunny locations to compete with big fossil-fuel generators that sell electricity to utilities (Fortune, October 15, 2007). Unfortunately, Indonesia with always sun-powered areas and cheap labour would not pass the candidacy of areas Rodgers were looking for. Manila became one place to provide this.

What went wrong with this picture?

Brief analyze it, another institutional approach is considered. In summit or conference like the upcoming International Investment Summit 2007, policy makers in Jakarta sometimes leave the so-called “public utilities’ managers” in provinces or regencies. Local autonomy shall not be crossed out and left as jargon only. The overall success is about coordination of Jakarta and local authorities. A package of new laws, be it sector-specific or local autonomy, shall be enforced and implemented with good political will of both national or local authorities. Amending the old working contracts with third parties must also insert obligations for social and institutional welfare of overall Indonesia. The contracts’ transformation process shall be burdensome, yet in a transparent and reliable way, any investor would be more than happy to further the negotiations.

In addition to that, this summit and other investors’ events that highlight alternative energy must also give ways for local authorities to take a more active part. Great committee preparation shall include well arrangement of the related stakeholders from Aceh to Papua.

One last thought, just don’t leave Sulsel Summit, Jabar Summit, North Sumatera Summit or other local events go their own separate ways, leaving a chaotic room that would scare investors instantly. Inform the investors promptly, make them smile, and get them to know the field better. Yet, they must know that we are not selling a piece of land. It’s the richness above and below the land.

Jakarta, 30 October 2007

World Nuclear Reactors ( www.cameco.com)


2015

Operating 2006

New

Shutdown

Total Operating

GWe Change

Nuclear Electricity 2004* (%)

Argentina

2

1

0

3

0.7

8

Brazil

2

1

0

3

1.4

3

Canada

18

2

0

20

1.7

15

Mexico

2

0

0

2

0

5

US

103

4

0

107

4.7

20

China

9

18

0

27

17.4

2

India

15

15

0

30

9.0

3

Iran

0

2

0

2

2.0

0

Japan

54

10

1

63

13.3

29

Korea

20

8

0

28

9.6

38

Pakistan

2

2

0

4

0.6

2

Taiwan

6

2

0

8

2.7

21

Belgium

7

0

0

7

0

55

Czech Republic

6

0

0

6

0

31

Finland

4

1

0

5

1.6

27

France

59

1

1

59

1.4

78

Germany

17

0

0

17

0

32

Hungary

4

0

0

4

0

34

Lithuania

1

0

1

0

(1.3)

72

The Netherlands

1

0

0

1

0

4

Romania

1

2

0

3

1.4

10

Slovakia

6

2

2

6

0

55

Slovenia

1

0

0

1

0

38

Spain

9

0

1

8

(0.2)

23

Sweden

10

0

0

10

0

52

Switzerland

5

0

0

5

0

40

UK

23

0

8

15

(2.5)

19

Russia

31

6

0

37

5.8

16

Armenia

1

0

0

1

0

39

Bulgaria

4

2

2

4

1.1

42

Ukraine

15

1

0

16

1.0

51

South Africa

2

2

0

4

0.3

7

*Source: World Nuclear Association

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