Japanese Parliament Asks Batang Power Plant Project Scrapped
13 September 2014 17:58 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Mizuho Fukushima, Japan's member of House of Councilors, has backed Batang residents' opposition against the construction of steam-fueled power plant (PLTU) in the area. Mizuho is steadfast to reject the power plant construction after meeting two representatives of Batang residents, Roidi from Kranggeneng Village and Taryun from Ponowareng Village, in Tokyo last week. Both Roidi and Taryun had asked Mizuho to oppose the megaproject financed by Japanese government.
Mizuho's support for Batang residents was appreciated by Greenpeace in a press release, saying that the group was honored to have support from the Japanese parliament.
"We really appreciate Mizuho's move. It reflects that we are supported by the Japanese parliament," Arif Fiyanto, a representative of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute Foundation (YLBHI) told Tempo earlier today.
Mizuho is a former Japanese State Minister for Consumer and Security affairs. He urged Batang power plant financiers, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), to scrap the megaproject since it would have negative impacts on Indonesian climate.
Responding to the issue, Hirofumi Oishi, JBIC’s director of press and external affairs division, and Kazunori Ogawa, JBIC’s deputy director of power and water finance department, said they would take public, Indonesian government and company's opinion into account before deciding whether the company would continue or stop the financing plan for the biggest steam-fueled power plant in South East Asia.
REZA ADITYA