Indonesia's Gas Discoveries: A Key to Achieving Emission Targets

Balancing Economic Growth and Emission Reduction

Recent significant natural gas discoveries in Indonesia have been recognized for their positive impact on both economic resilience and energy security. According to Komaidi Notonegoro, Executive Director of ReforMiner Institute, these discoveries can play a crucial role in helping Indonesia achieve its climate commitments while maintaining economic stability. The current Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 31.89% (915 million tons CO2e) by 2030.

The Role of Gas in Emission Reduction

The institute's simulation shows that if 50% of Indonesia's current coal and oil consumption is replaced with natural gas, it could lead to an emissions reduction of 159.51 million tons CO2e. This represents approximately 44.5% of the total emissions reduction target for the energy sector. The strategic use of natural gas is seen as a balancing act between maintaining public purchasing power and achieving emission reduction targets.

Economic and Environmental Implications

The increased utilization of natural gas is considered to have a positive impact for several reasons:

1. It helps in achieving emission reduction targets
2. It maintains energy security and reliability
3. It supports economic activities by providing a more affordable energy alternative
4. It serves as a bridge in Indonesia's energy transition journey

The ReforMiner Institute emphasizes that maximizing the benefits of recent gas discoveries requires comprehensive policy support and strategic implementation to ensure that the energy transition is both sustainable and equitable.