Balancing sustainability and economic needs in Southeast Asia's energy transition

Indonesia and Vietnam face the intricate task of aligning their green aspirations and financial strategies with the existing commitment to numerous coal-powered energy projects.

David Hutt reports for Deutsche-Welle.


In short:

  • Indonesia and Vietnam are struggling to align their sustainable energy goals with the economic implications of phasing out coal plants.
  • Financial aid through the Just Energy Transition Partnership is pivotal, but the effective application of these funds remains a complex task.
  • The existing and planned coal power infrastructure in these countries complicates their ambitious renewable energy targets.

Key quote:

"Energy transition is a matter of public interest. JETP is one of the initiatives within Indonesia's broader energy transition efforts. Therefore, we would like the public to have access to the draft before it is finalized in the hopes that we may receive as much input as possible."

— Edo Mahendra, Indonesia's JETP Secretariat head

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