JAKARTA: Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Bahlil Lahadalia and British Minister for International Development, Women and Equalities Minister Anneliese Dodds signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to exchange technologies in the field of critical minerals.
“This is part of the follow-up to the agreements between the two countries. Minister (Dodds) and I have signed (the MoU), and we will follow this up,” Lahadalia remarked after the signing session here on Wednesday.
Lahadalia noted that the potential for technological cooperation between Indonesia and the United Kingdom is very diverse, starting from nickel, underwater technology, wind energy, and solar energy development.
He affirmed that Indonesia will continue to explore opportunities to reduce investment costs in the critical minerals and new renewable energy sectors so Indonesians can access them at affordable prices.
“We are facing a large investment cost. As the investment cost is high, the selling price to the community is expensive. We are looking for the middle ground so that everything can run,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Dodds stated that the UK and Indonesia have established a strong partnership and recently updated the cooperation through the new MoU.
She explained that the agreement aims to ensure green development, job creation, and benefits for the local communities.
The UK has committed US$1.15 billion, or around Rp17.65 trillion, in funding to support the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) in Indonesia.
The UK-Indonesia partnership in low-carbon energy transition is also carried out through the MENTARI program that provides technical assistance for policy reform and energy market regulation.
The MENTARI program began in 2020 and is managed by the British Embassy in Jakarta.
