State electricity company PLN has reportedly issued the list of qualified renewable energy developers that PLN will choose from as operators of new projects.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's diversified new and renewable energy director Harris confirmed the report. “That is what I’ve heard,” he confirmed in a text message on Thursday.

He said the issuance of the list was expected to accelerate the government’s target to increase the contribution of renewable energy to the national electricity capacity.

The issuance of the list was based on Ministerial Regulation No. 50/2017 on the utilization of renewable energy for electricity.

Only independent power producers (IPP) on the list are eligible to bid on renewable energy projects in the country.  

The qualified developers are eligible to apply for 30 power purchase agreement (PPA) projects offered in 2017 that failed to be realized by IPPs appointed to handle the projects as a result of difficulties obtaining funding.

“PLN will terminate the agreement for the projects that failed to be realized and PLN will offer the projects to all existing IPPs,” he added.

Previously, the European Business Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia (EuroCham) criticized PLN’s sluggish process in issuing the list, as the chamber said it had waited for one year.

Fabby Tumiwa, executive director of energy watchdog Essential Services Reform (IESR), said the requirement for new developers to get on the list was too hard as PLN only picked experienced developers with a global rating. (bbn)