Jakarta, March 13, 2025 – The Europe Today: East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) is progressing toward a low-carbon energy transition through the bilateral initiative Towards Indonesia’s Low Carbon Energy Transition (Mentari), a collaboration between Indonesia and the United Kingdom.
Under this program, NTT has received substantial support in public policy governance from Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), the National Energy Council, the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (KP3A), and the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) think tank.
“The ESDM Ministry will continue to strive for reliable and sustainable energy development by providing comprehensive facilities to meet energy needs in various regions,” stated Sahid Junaidi, Secretary of the Directorate General of New, Renewable Energy, and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) at the ESDM Ministry, on Wednesday.
Junaidi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring equitable, affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy access, particularly for remote areas across Indonesia. He also lauded the Mentari program’s contribution to constructing a solar power plant (PLTS) in Mata Redi and Mata Woga, which was inaugurated on August 26, 2022. The plant’s assets are set to be officially transferred to the local government in 2024.
Beyond the energy sector, the Mentari program facilitated the construction of a 95-kilowatt peak (kWp) PLTS equipped with smart meter technology and supported the drafting of the NTT Provincial General Energy Plan (RUED) document for 2025-2034.
Amanda McLoughin, UK Minister-Counsellor for Development in Indonesia, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, noting that the Mentari program’s partnership with the NTT Provincial Government has resulted in Indonesia’s first RUED document integrating gender, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) principles. She highlighted that the document will serve as a crucial reference for local governments in formulating strategies and policies for a just and inclusive energy transition.
“This milestone in the Indonesia-UK partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to a just energy transition, which will continue to receive support from the UK government through the Mentari program,” McLoughin stated.
Mentari program team leader Julio Retana underscored the initiative’s goal of fostering inclusive and equitable low-carbon development in Indonesia. “One approach is to involve all levels of stakeholders, ensuring broad participation in the transition to sustainable energy,” he remarked.
NTT Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena reiterated his commitment to pushing for the RUED document to be enacted as a regional regulation. He emphasized that this step would establish a crucial foundation for ensuring fair and sustainable energy development that benefits all communities across NTT.
Governor Lena highlighted that the Mentari program’s collaboration aligns with the broader Ayo Bangun NTT (Let’s Build NTT) initiative, which aims to foster regional progress. He also pointed out that solar power holds immense potential in NTT, with solar energy constituting a significant portion of the province’s renewable energy mix.
The Indonesian and UK governments remain steadfast in their commitment to furthering sustainable energy initiatives, ensuring that low-carbon development is achieved in an inclusive manner that benefits all segments of society. The Mentari program continues to be a testament to the strong and enduring partnership between both nations in the pursuit of clean energy and sustainable economic growth.
