Jakarta. Indonesia will continue pushing for renewable energy development as a key part of its national energy investment roadmap, even as coal remains a dominant part of the current energy mix, a senior official said Thursday.

Tri Winarno, Director General of Mineral and Coal at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry (ESDM), said that the share of new and renewable energy (NRE) in Indonesia’s power sector is expected to reach 70 percent after 2030, in line with the country’s latest Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL).

“In the long term, we hope that our energy consumption will become increasingly environmentally friendly,” Tri said at the 2025 Energy and Mineral Festival in Jakarta’s Hutan Kota by Plataran. “However, given our current conditions, about 40 percent of our energy mix still relies on coal, which we will continue to utilize with low-carbon technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS).”

Indonesia’s clean energy deployment still lags behind its targets. Renewable energy accounted for just 11–12 percent of the national energy mix in 2020, rising modestly to around 14 percent by 2025, well below the government’s 23 percent target by 2025 and 31 percent by 2050.

To catch up, the government’s Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL) 2025–2034 lays out a roadmap to add 42.6 gigawatts (GW) of renewable capacity, including 17.1 GW of solar, 11.7 GW hydro, 7.2 GW wind, 5.2 GW geothermal, and 0.9 GW of bioenergy. This would account for approximately 76 percent of all new power capacity additions and increase renewables’ share to 35 percent by 2034.

Winarno added that energy transition efforts must be balanced with equitable access to power across the archipelago. As of 2025, approximately 5,400 villages remain underserved or unconnected to the national electricity grid, while many remote areas still face difficulties accessing fuel supplies.

“This is a major challenge for achieving national energy equity. All Indonesians deserve access to affordable and reliable energy,” Tri said.

Indonesia’s dual-track approach signifies the tension between its climate goals and developmental needs. While the country has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, its short-term strategy continues to depend on coal, which remains its most abundant and cost-effective energy resource.

To meet its climate goals, Indonesia requires massive funding. A recent report by global consultancy Kearney estimates that the country will need up to US$2.4 trillion between 2022 and 2060. But Indonesia is fighting an uphill battle.

In 2024, investment in the renewable energy and energy conservation (EBTKE) sub-sector reached $1.77 billion, 143.4 percent of the government’s $1.23 billion target. This marks a significant improvement from 2023, when investment totaled just $1.48 billion, or 33.6 percent of the $4.39 billion target.

Tri also raised concerns over ballooning energy subsidies, which are projected to hit Rp 400 trillion ($25 billion) in 2025. He argued that such a large fiscal burden could be better spent on other productive sectors such as education, health, and infrastructure.

“We’re facing a challenging macroeconomic landscape, with high energy subsidies, global uncertainties, and geopolitical tensions. In this context, countries are prioritizing domestic interests — and we must do the same,” he said.

Despite these headwinds, Tri reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to long-term energy sustainability and self-sufficiency.

“We hope to realize true energy independence that ensures a better and more sustainable future for Indonesia,” he said.

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