A coal-powered industrial boom is testing Indonesia’s green ambitions


Large, energy-hungry industrial estates across Indonesia will still run on coal for much of this decade. - PHOTO: REUTERS

JAKARTA: In a heavily forested district in Indonesia’s portion of the island of Borneo, excavators and an army of surveyors are clearing the way for a US$2.6 billion hydroelectric plant, purpose-built to power a vast industrial park - a project lauded by its backers and Jakarta’s government as evidence that economic growth can come with limited carbon cost.

But the reality to support that low-emission ambition lies years in the future.

Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 11.12/month

Billed as RM 11.12 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 9.87/month

Billed as RM 118.40 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Aseanplus News

Kim Jong-un wants North Koreans to have more (state-sanctioned) fun
Laos seeks Belt and Road partner investment
Philippine Coast Guard battles smoke in search for ferry fire missing
To Lam calls for breakthrough action to elevate Vietnam–France economic cooperation
Umno to restore GST if returns to power, says Ahmad Zahid
Beyond the 'Blue Wave': Zahid unveils visionary 'Blue Malaysia Agenda'
Gurmit Singh, Suhaimi Yusof visit Sheikh Haikel at his restaurant after cancer reveal
Over 50 artists explore new vision of resilience at Phnom Penh Solarpunk exhibition
When in Korea, crack the banana milk code
Air quality in Singapore remains in moderate range as PSI drops to below 100

Others Also Read