European Commissioner for Energy and East Kalimantan Provincial Government discuss energy transition
EU Energy Commissioner and East Kalimantan Provincial Government discuss energy transition
Today (4/9), the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, met with the Provincial Government of East Kalimantan, led by the Provincial Secretary, in Balikpapan to discuss potential cooperation on the clean and just energy transition between the EU and East Kalimantan Province.
“Transitioning to cleaner sources of energy is vital to tackling climate change, but also to improving people’s quality of life and protecting the environment. The EU has committed to reach climate-neutrality by 2050 and significantly scale up the share of renewables and increase energy efficiency already by 2030. To ensure that the energy transition is global, we need to work closely with partners across the globe and Indonesia is a key country in this regard,” said Commissioner Simson.
To accelerate the energy transition, the EU has developed a wide range of policies to support a faster roll-out of renewable energy projects while phasing out fossil fuels. The EU ‘Fit for 55’ policy package, in particular, comes with a set of sector-specific measures to ensure progress in energy transition across all economic sectors, including industry, buildings, heating and cooling, as well as transport. The implementation of the package will reduce the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by 55% already by 2030. The REPowerEU plan will further accelerate the clean energy transition with faster permitting procedures and larger deployment of solar power, biomethane, renewable hydrogen and heat pumps.
Ensuring the social fairness of the energy transition is a key priority for the EU – both at home and abroad. The EU and its Member States take part in the International Partnership Group to establish a Just Energy Transition Partnership with Indonesia, that would provide both financial and technical help to transitioning Indonesia’s energy sector in a fair and inclusive way, leaving no-one behind.
In the discussion with the East Kalimantan Provincial Secretary, Commissioner Simson stressed the EU’s readiness to work with international partners, such as Indonesia, on the green and just transition. She said, “The EU has abundant experience in greening our energy system and reducing the use of fossil fuels. I am here today to learn if and how these experiences could be useful for Indonesia and Kalimantan. Renewable energy, green infrastructure, and energy efficiency are areas for productive and sustainable investment – and this is particularly timely with Indonesia’s relocation plan for the new capital city in Kalimantan”.
Commissioner Simson’s visit to East Kalimantan is part of her presence in Indonesia to participate in the G20 Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting in Bali and to enhance bilateral relations between the EU and Indonesia in the energy field.