BANDUNG, itb.ac.id – The 2020 Integrated Petroleum Convention and Exhibition (IPCONVEX) Seminar is one of the events in the 2020 Integrated Petroleum Festival (IPFEST) organized by the ITB Petroleum Engineering Student Association (HMTM Patra), The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) ITB Student Chapter, and the Indonesian Petroleum Engineering Association (IATMI SM) ITB. This seminar was held on Saturday, February 22, 2020 in the West Hall of ITB.

With the theme of Balancing Petroleum and Geothermal Energy to Fulfill Indonesia Energy Needs, this seminar invited Prof. Irwandy Arif as Special Staff in the Field of Mineral and Coal Governance Acceleration of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) of the Republic of Indonesia and Dr. Ediar Usman as Head of the Energy Crisis Management and Energy Supervision Facilitation Bureau (DEN).

Prof. Irwandy Arif said that investment in the energy sector in 2020 had increased compared to the previous year, especially for the oil and gas sector. At present there are also 18 basins that have operated in Indonesia and 12 basins that have proven to have oil and gas but have not yet operated. In addition, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources seeks to boost oil and gas lifting every year beyond the limits of the National Energy General Plan (RUEN).

Regarding the potential for new renewable energy (EBT), he said, the government is developing geothermal energy or geothermal energy that can meet domestic energy needs. Geothermal energy has the advantage compared to oil and gas, namely low carbon emissions and resistance to inflation. “At present Indonesia only uses around 8% of the potential for geothermal energy. The government is trying to make regulations that support the development of geothermal energy by exploring geothermal centers, especially in eastern Indonesia, optimizing existing plant production, synergizing between relevant government agencies, and further studies with geothermal experts, “he said.

Meanwhile according to Dr. Ediar Usman, meeting energy needs in Indonesia is inseparable from the role of the National Energy Council (DEN). “Currently there are several energy issues and problems in the RUEN that cover operational aspects, geopolitical conditions, environmental issues, and technological mastery. These issues and problems become one of the determinants of the national energy policy that has a vision of the realization of a fair, sustainable and eco-friendly energy management as well as increasing the role of EBT for national energy independence and security, “he said.

Ediar revealed that the national energy security index in Indonesia in 2019 experienced an increase compared to 2015. The energy security index represented the condition of guaranteed energy availability, access, and price affordability in the community in the long run. Indonesia itself is included in the Hold category. On the other hand, Ediar explained that there would be a possibility of an oil and gas crisis due to the fact that a significant new reserve had not yet been discovered and oil and gas import dependence. Regarding this matter, the government has made countermeasures such as limiting energy exports, saving energy, and accelerating EBT projects.