Indonesia to push renewable energy: president

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

JAKARTA (AFP) — Stung by high oil prices, Indonesia plans to tap more into renewable energies and change course from a "nation that splurges" to one that saves, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Friday.

"The soaring prices of oil on the global level during these last six years have reminded us of the importance of safeguarding energy security in our homeland," Yudhoyono said in his annual state-of-the-nation address.

"We're raising the energy supply capacity through accelerated energy diversification, the utilisation of non-fuel oil alternative energy, including new and renewable energy such as micro-hydro, geothermal and biofuel."

Indonesia is Asia's only member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, but Jakarta is planning to pull out...