Govt to Issue CCS Regulation Soon; Allows for Carbon Storage by Foreign Entities

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said that the Presidential Regulation on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) outside of upstream oil and gas will soon be issued.

"Hopefully, the presidential regulation on CCS could be released soon. If not [in January], then next month," said the Oil and Gas DG of the EMR Ministry Tutuka Ariadji during a press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

Tutuka explained four main points of the presidential regulation. First, concerning the carbon dioxide storage working area. Second, concerning the license to explore, research, map, and test the potential of permanent carbon storage. Third, concerning the license for operators to deliver the carbon dioxide to storage areas. Fourth, concerning the methods of CCS and the requirements needed to support the carbon market initiative.

The director of engineering and environment of the EMR Ministry Mirza Mahendra said that Indonesia's capacity for carbon storage is quite large. CCS, he said, is not only a solution to reduce carbon emissions but is also believed to improve the economy.

CCS is mainly used to regulate the carbon storage scheme outside of the oil and gas sector. Regarding the mechanism of carbon storage by a foreign entity, carbon storage could be conducted cross-border. However, he stressed that Indonesia will prioritize other countries that have invested in the country. 

The CCS technology injects carbon dioxide into the soil to prevent it from entering the atmosphere. Several countries have implemented this technology, such as the US, Norway, Australia, Canada, and Japan.

DEFARA DHANYA | SULTAN ABDURRAHMAN

Editor's Choice: Greenpeace Indonesia: CCS Ineffective Against Carbon Emissions

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