30 GW solar power tender to start this year: Minister

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia announced plans that the government would soon launch a tender for the 100-GW solar power plant (PLTS) development program, with 30 GW to be developed in the initial phase.

"This year, we will begin the first phase of the 30 GW development. We have discussed it with the President Director of PLN, and we will start the tender process," Bahlil said at the 12th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE) 2026 in Jakarta on Wednesday.

In the 2025–2034 Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL), he noted that approximately 70–75 percent of capacity will come from New and Renewable Energy (NRE) and energy storage systems such as batteries and pumped storage.

He added that President Prabowo Subianto had expressed the government's commitment to expanding solar power capacity by 100 GW in the coming years.

"We will continue to develop a new and renewable energy mix," Lahadalia affirmed.

Earlier, the president conveyed the government's plan to build solar power plants with a capacity of 30 gigawatts (GW), and phase out 13 GW of diesel-fired power plants (PLTD) by 2026.

The president said Indonesia’s strong solar energy potential, with the country receiving sunlight almost year-round, makes solar power particularly suitable for electrifying remote areas.

Prabowo emphasized that large-scale utilization of solar power plants could also strengthen national energy self-sufficiency by reducing the use of fuel oil for power generation.

The government has set a target of developing solar power capacity in stages until they reach a capacity of 100 GW.

Based on calculations from the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, this capacity has the potential to save up to Rp73.9 trillion (around US$4 billion) per year in electricity production costs.

Moreover, the large-scale use of solar energy is also expected to reduce the need for fuel imports and save foreign exchange.

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Translator: Putu Indah S, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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