Indonesia plans to build 3 solar power projects in mines

    The CEO of Indonesia's state-owned coal company PT Bukit Asam said the company plans to build three solar projects on previous mines as part of the company's expansion into Home Solar Systems Complete energy.

    Suryo Eko Hadianto, chief executive of the state-controlled Phuket Yasen Coal Company, told reporters that the company operates in West Sumatra, South Sumatra and East Calgary. Each province of East Kalimantan has planned a plot of land for the construction of solar power plants of up to 200 megawatts.

    An Indonesian State Counsellor stated that as the world’s largest thermal coal exporter, the country’s goal is to achieve net zero emissions by 2060 or earlier. This goal means that Indonesia is expected to abandon the use of coal for power generation.

    "Currently, we are discussing with the National Power Company (Perusahaan Listrik Negara) to make these solar power plants become independent power producers for utilities," Suri said at a virtual media briefing.

    Although he did not disclose the details of the investment scale, Suri said that he is not worried about the financing of these projects.

    Suri said: "At present, the global financial market is very open to renewable energy investment, so we don't think there will be any problems."

    He said that as of last year, Phuket Yasen Coal Company has more than 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres) of original mining land that can be used to build solar power plants.