TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said said that Indonesia needs Rp2 quadrillion to develop renewable energy in the next 20 years.

"Indonesia was rich with natural resources 20 years ago and in the next 20 years, we need Rp2 quadrillion to develop renewable energy so we can meet the demands of the people,” said the Minister after inaugurating the use of city gas in Jambi on Saturday.

The minister also said that renewable energy includes hydropower, geothermal, solar power, and many others.

Therefore, he said that Indonesia must not depend on the existing fossil energy reserve but we must make the most of renewable energy.

"Indonesia’s natural gas reserve is only 0.2 percent from the global natural gas reserve. We already import oil. We’re also going to import natural gas. So we must not depend on the existing fossil energy reserve, but how to make the most of the renewable energy,” he added.

During the inauguration of the use of city gas in Jambi, Minister Said also said that the city's gas program aims to eliminate the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene as energy as their prices are increasingly expensive.

"In the long run, we’re going to eliminate LPG canisters in the cities. However, in the villages, we’re going to do that gradually as we develop renewable energy.

DODI SAPUTRA | ANTARA