News

New Zealand committed to continue geothermal training and technical assistance in Indonesia

New Zealand committed to continue geothermal training and technical assistance in Indonesia New Zealand booth at IIGCE 2019, Jakarta (source: ThinkGeoEnergy)
Alexander Richter 6 Sep 2020

In conjunction with this week's Digital Indonesia International Geothermal Convention, New Zealand reaffirms it commitment to support geothermal development in Indonesia with training and technical assistance.

New Zealand is ready to assist Indonesia in strengthening the geothermal industry in the country in the Indonesia-New Zealand Comprehensive Partnership Action Plan 2020-2024.

“The action plan contains an agreement to renew the focus on bilateral cooperation priorities, including in the field of renewable energy, and explore new opportunities,” explained NZTE’s New Zealand trade and business office over the weekend. NZTE is a government agency whose job is to help connect companies in New Zealand with investors in various countries.

In Indonesia, NZTE builds partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders and provides various information and networks related to investment.

Not only action plans, the government and business actors in New Zealand are also actively participating in various forums and business meetings related to the geothermal industry in Indonesia, one of which is the Digital Indonesia International Geothermal Convention (DIIGC) 2020, which will be held virtually on September 8, 2020.

New Zealand Trade Commissioner for Indonesia, Diana Permana, conveyed that New Zealand’s Minister of Trade and Export Growth, David Parker, confirmed his attendance at the business meeting.

“Minister of Trade and Export Growth David Parker will present a strategy to face the challenges caused by Covid-19 and emphasize the important role of low emission and resilient climate change economic recovery through the application of environmentally friendly policies and technologies such as the development of renewable energy at one of the 2020 DIIGC sessions,” he explained. Diana was quoted as saying in the NZTE written broadcast.

DIIGC 2020 is a replacement for the Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE), an annual event held by the Indonesian Geothermal Association (API / INAGA).

The holding of this year’s digital meeting will take place from September 1 and will end on September 10, 2020.

“The meeting will open the opportunity to review the priority of bilateral cooperation, including in the renewable energy sector, and increase the potential for collaboration between the two countries,” explained NZTE.

Apart from active participation in domestic energy forums, New Zealand also supports the development of geothermal resources in Indonesia through training programs and human resource empowerment, as well as trade cooperation.

“New Zealand is also helping to evaluate the potential of a number of geothermal projects so that further exploration programs can be carried out effectively,” said NZTE, adding that it would also help Indonesia realize a road map for geothermal and clean energy development in Indonesia.

These types of assistance and assistance can be realized because the renewable energy sector receives the largest allocation of funds in the New Zealand Assistance Program for Indonesia. Data from the New Zealand-Indonesia Joint Commitment for Development for 2017-2022 shows New Zealand plans to disburse NZ $ 30 million (around Rp.296.8 billion or US$ 20.2 million) in the form of training and technical assistance.

Source: official NZTE release