Heaptalk, Jakarta — Indonesia, a country rich in natural resources and technology, struggles to advance its renewable energy sector. Muhaimin Iqbal, an Indonesian researcher in renewable energy, acknowledges that the main obstacle lies in the lack of willingness.
In discussions with the European Union on renewable energy, he revealed that most materials needed for advanced fuels—17 types identified as key targets—are readily available in Indonesia. Some technologies developed in the country, such as hydrogen production, are being utilized abroad.
“It’s not a problem of technology because the technology is well-established and widely available in the renewable energy sector. For example, we are already supplying hydrogen technology to other countries. There’s no issue with production. The main reason we haven’t made significant progress with renewable energy is because of interests,” Muhaimin stated in a discussion with Poempida Hidayatulloh, an environmental activits, on the Forum Carbon Indonesia Youtube channel.
A more affordable bio-LPG
According to Muhaimin, one example of these conflicting interests is Indonesia’s reliance on importing expensive liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to meet household fuel demands across its 17,500 islands. This occurs despite the availability of bio-LPG, which is already widely used in countries like the United States, Latin America, and Central America. “It’s very ironic. They consult with me, so we know how to produce it. But here in Indonesia, nobody takes the initiative to do it,” he voiced.
Regarding costs, Muhaimin expressed confidence that renewable energy, including hydrogen and bio-LPG, can be produced at affordable prices. Based on his calculations, producing the equivalent of 1 kg of LPG requires 3 kilograms of charcoal. With the price of charcoal at approximately Rp2,000 per kg, 3 kg costs only Rp6,000. Meanwhile, the normal price of LPG (not subsidized) is around Rp18,000.
He added, “It’s very, very affordable. For hydrogen, for instance, buying it from a state-owned company in Indonesia costs a minimum of $6 per unit. But if we produce it from charcoal, the production cost is only about $1.”
Muhaimin also highlighted international interest in Indonesia’s renewable energy potential. He has received requests from Mexico and the United States to develop hydrogen fuel for low-flying aircraft in the Maldives. Since these aircraft require quiet engines unsuitable for traditional propeller jets, hydrogen fuel cell engines are preferred. Hydrogen can be produced cheaply from charcoal or biomass, which is abundant on islands worldwide. “It’s very cheap. We can compete; it’s just a matter of willingness,” Muhaimin concluded.
