Abstract
Energy (in)security has re-emerged as one of the central security issues for countries around the world. Despite its huge and diverse reserves of fossil fuel energy, Indonesia finds itself among countries suffering from an energy crisis. This paper is concerned with the lack of a comprehensive response by the Indonesian government to the domestic energy crisis. Troubled by these circumstances, non-state actors (or civil society) in Indonesia have chosen to act in response to the government’s “failure”. The role of civil society in energy security will be elaborated upon, particularly how non-governmental organisations (NGOs) engaged in the Indonesian energy sector perceive and propose initiatives that target the government, public and other relevant stakeholders. The basic argument is that NGOs in the Indonesian energy sector assume key functions by, first, mapping out problems in current energy policies and, second, educating Indonesian society on the energy crisis and encouraging new ideas on creating an alternative energy supply and using this effectively.
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Notes
- 1.
“BP Statistical Review of World Energy (June 2011)”, at: http://www.bp.com/assets/bp_internet/globalbp/globalbp_uk_english/reports_and_publications/statistical_energy_review_2011/STAGING/local_assets/pdf/statistical_review_of_world_energy_full_report_2011.pdf (26 September 2011).
- 2.
Kollewe, Julia, “Oil Prices Rise Again on Further Libyan Fighting”, in: Guardian (4 March 2011), at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/mar/04/oil-prices-rise-again-libyan-fighting (26 September 2011).
- 3.
One example is the recent study released by the Department of Economics, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Indonesia. The study recommends that the government re-evaluate the subsidy policy. Specifically, it suggests increasing the price of the “premium” category, eventually easing the burden on the national budget. See Rangga D. Fadillah, “Late Fuel Subsidy Removal Hurts RI”, in: The Jakarta Post (11 May 2011), at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/05/11/late-fuel-subsidy-removal-hurts-ri.html (26 September 2011).
- 4.
“Krisis Listrik Ancam Investasi” (Electricity Crisis Is Threatening Investments), in: Kompas (10 July 2008).
- 5.
Alfian, “PLN Secures 65 % of Financing for First 10,000 MW Program”, in: The Jakarta Post (31 January 2009), at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/01/31/pln-secures-65-financing-first-10000-mw-program.html (26 September 2011); see also: “PLN Ready to Start 2nd 10,000 MW Program”, in: The Jakarta Post (20 August 2009).
- 6.
“BP Statistical Review of World Energy (June 2011)”, at: http://www.bp.com/assets/bp_internet/globalbp/globalbp_uk_english/reports_and_publications/statistical_energy_review_2011/STAGING/local_assets/pdf/statistical_review_of_world_energy_full_report_2011.pdf (26 September 2011).
- 7.
Simamora, Adianto P., “SBY: Keep Spirits Up Amid Looming Crises”, in: The Jakarta Post (21 May 2008).
- 8.
Energy elasticity is the percentage change in energy consumption to achieve 1 % change in national gross domestic product (GDP).
- 9.
Indonesia’s total power-plant capacity is 29,705 MW, 22,302 MW of which is meant for Java and Bali, and 7,403 MW for outside Java; however, peak electricity demand in Java alone has reached 17,000 MW. See Kelik Dewanto, “Proyek Pembangkit 10,000 MW Obat Krisis Listrik” (10,000 MW Electricity Generation Project Solution), in: Antara News (13 July 2008), at: http://www.antara.co.id/arc/2008/7/13/proyek-pembangkit-10000-mw-obat-krisis-listrik (26 September 2011). On the electricity crisis outside of Java, see Basri, Faisal, 2008: “Menjinakkan Krisis Listrik” (Taming the Electricity Crisis), in: Kompas (14 July 2008).
- 10.
Personal interview with Kuki Soejachmoen from Yayasan Pelangi (September 2008).
- 11.
Personal interview with Mohammad Suhud from WWF Indonesia (July 2008).
- 12.
Ibid.
- 13.
See the following useful blog articles: “Energy Security: A Look at Other Fuel Sources” (18 October 2006), at: http://www.post1.net/lowem/entry/energy_security_a_look_at (26 September 2001); and Ardian, Faddy, “Problem of Indonesia Renewable Energy Development” (18 February 2009), at: http://www.kamase.org/?p=582 (9 November 2011).
- 14.
Information has been gathered from personal interviews with colleagues in WWF Indonesia, the Indonesian Institute for Energy Economics (IIEE) and Yayasan Pelangi. The author would like to extend personal thanks to Muhammad Suhud, Asclepias Indriyanto and Kuki Soejachmoen for their willingness to share knowledge and information that has been very useful to this paper.
- 15.
Personal interview with Indriyanto from IIEE (July 2008).
- 16.
Details on the work of the Institute for Essential Services Reform can be found at “Institute for Essential Services Reform”, Electricity Governance Initiative, at: http://electricitygovernance.wri.org/node/130 (26 September 2011).
- 17.
See “Dutch Import of Biomass: Point of View of Producing Countries on the Sustainability of Biomass Exports updated 070502”, Both ENDS (2002), at: www.bothends.info/project/project_info.php?id=41&scr=st (26 September 2011).
- 18.
Personal interview with Mohammad Suhud (July 2008).
- 19.
Ibid.
- 20.
Personal interview with Indriyanto (July 2008).
- 21.
Personal Interview with Mohammad Suhud (July 2008).
- 22.
“NGO Coalitions Will Take Legal Action on Indonesian Parliament’s Endorsement of Government Decree”, in MAC: Mines and Communities (24 July 2004), at: http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=585 (26 September 2011).
- 23.
“A Nuclear Future?”, in: Down To Earth, No. 72 (March 2007), at: http://dte.gn.apc.org/72nuk.htm (26 September 2011).
- 24.
“MK: UU Ketenagalistrikan Bertentangan Dengan UUD 45” (The Constitutional Court: The Electricity Bill Is against the Constitution), in Tempo (15 December 2004), at: http://www.tempo.co.id/hg/nasional/2004/12/15/brk,20041215-34,id.html (26 September 2011).
- 25.
“Penyempurnaan UU Migas No. 22/2001 yang Berpihak kepada Kepentingan Rakyat”.
- 26.
“Jajak Pendapat Kompas: Instruksi Penghematan Didukung dan Diragukan” (Kompas Polling: Efficiency Instruction Has Been Supported and Doubted), in: Kompas (18 July 2005).
- 27.
Personal interview with Asclepias Rachmi S. Indriyanto (July 2008).
- 28.
Ibid.
- 29.
Personal interview with Kuki Soejachmoen (September 2008).
- 30.
Personal interview with Muhammad Suhud and Indriyanto (July 2008).
- 31.
Personal interview with Kuki Soejachmoen (September 2008).
- 32.
Ibid.
- 33.
Abdul Khalik, “SBY Faces Questions over ‘Blue Energy’ Hoax”, in: The Jakarta Post (30 May 2008).
Abbreviations
- CSIS:
-
Centre for Strategic and International Studies (Jakarta)
- GDP:
-
Gross domestic product
- IBEKA:
-
Institut Bisnis dan Ekonomi Kerakyatan
- IEER:
-
Indonesian Energy Economics Review
- IIEE:
-
Indonesian Institute for Energy Economics
- INRISE:
-
Social and Economic Research Institute
- LPG:
-
Liquefied petroleum gas
- MANUSIA:
-
Indonesian Anti-Nuclear Society
- NGO:
-
Non-governmental organisation
- OPEC:
-
Organization of the Petroleum exporting Countries
- PLN:
-
National Electricity Company of Indonesia (Perusahaan Listrik Negara)
- SMS:
-
Short message service
- UU Migas:
-
Oil and Natural Gas (Law Number 22 Year 2001) (Undang–Undang Nomor 22 Tahun 2001 Tentang Minyak dan Gas Bumi)
- WALHI:
-
Indonesian Forum for Environment (Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia)
- WWF:
-
World Wildlife Fund
- YLKI:
-
Indonesia Consumer Association (Yayasan Lembaga Konsumen Indonesia)
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Alexandra, L.A. (2012). The Role of Indonesia’s Civil Society in Energy Security. In: Caballero-Anthony, M., Chang, Y., Putra, N. (eds) Rethinking Energy Security in Asia: A Non-Traditional View of Human Security. SpringerBriefs in Environment, Security, Development and Peace, vol 2. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29703-8_2
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