Develop alternative energy, says deputy minister

Deputy Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Widjajono Partowidagdo says his ministry should develop alternative energy rather than build more fossil oil refineries.

“I don’t agree if we build more oil refineries. Instead, we should develop alternative energy like wind, hydro or geothermal power,” he said on Thursday as quoted by Antara news agency.

Widjajono, a professor at the Bandung Institute of Technology and a member of the National Energy Council, said that among the alternative resources, the abundance of sunlight deserved more serious attention from the government.

Indonesia Engineers Association chairman M. Said Didu said that such a plan should be initiated soon. He said the government should lift the fuel subsidy to stimulate the development of alternative energy.