AUSTRALIA–INDONESIA JOINT SYMPOSIUM IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Jakarta, 13-17 September 2006

Low rank coal and its contribution to the energy development in Indonesia
Dr Agus Rusyana Hoetman, Assistant Deputy Minister for Engineering Development, RISTEK

One of the largest fossil energy resources in Indonesia is coal, compared to natural gas and oil. The potential of coal in Indonesia is about 58 billion ton, with 19.3 billion ton reserves, however, over 60 per cent of this resources classified as low rank coal. Oil, on the other hand at present still the prime energy source, with it shares over 51 per cent in the energy mix, while coal is accounted only 16 per cent. If in the next 10 to 15 years, no new discoveries of oil fields be found, the country will face a growing national energy crisis. Under such circumstances, it is possible that Indonesia will have to be dependent on imported oil to meet domestic demand.

Therefore, efforts have to be made to maintain stable supply and demand within the national energy policy. One of the solutions is to redirect the focus on the energy supply to coal resources as the most reliable energy source, together with the effort of the green fuel development. It has been decided by government of Indonesia that in conjunction with the national energy policy of diversifying of energy, the utilisation of Low Rank Coal should be optimized. This government policy stipulated in Presidential decree no 71 and 72/2006, for utilisation of LRC as a source of energy for generating electricity. Inpres no 2/2006 for synthetic oil fuel and kepres no 5/2006, the use of coal (LRC) to be upgraded as an high quality coal, it used as domestic fuel as well as other purposes such as exported.

This paper identifies the propose technology in developing Low Rank Coal related to its utilisation.

Dr Agus Rusyana Hoetman received his PhD in Energy Technology from Salford University, Manchester UK in 1990. He has been Vice Chairman of the Engineering Center at Industrial Strategic Agency (BPIS); Head of Energy Laboratory, BPPT; and Head of Energy Technology Center, BPPT. He is currently Assistant Deputy Minister for Engineering Development. His interests are in Energy technology