Earlier this year, the Government of Indonesia and PLN released the much-anticipated RUPTL 2025–2034, proudly branded as “Beyond the Greenest RUPTL”. The plan marks a decisive step toward achieving Net Zero Emissions by 2060, laying out the addition of 69.5 GW of new power capacity—52.9 GW of which (or 76%) is slated to come from renewable sources and energy storage. This is nearly double the renewable allocation in the previous RUPTL. With improved spatial balancing, dedicated investments in smart grids, and extensive transmission buildouts, Indonesia’s power roadmap is now more aligned with both decarbonization and reliability imperatives.
However, the government acknowledges that Indonesia’s energy transition must be gradual, measurable, and rational as mentioned in RUKN 2025. In that context, fossil-based capacity, particularly gas-fired power, will still play a transitional role. The RUPTL outlines plans to add 10.3 GW of gas power plants, accounting for nearly 15% of the total additional installed capacity. This inclusion supports Indonesia’s broader energy security strategy and ensures that regions facing renewable intermittency or lacking transmission access continue to receive reliable electricity supply.
Natural gas is widely considered a “bridge fuel” in energy transitions due to its lower carbon footprint compared to coal. On average, natural gas emits about 50–60% less CO₂ per kilowatt-hour than coal when used in modern power plants. It also allows for more flexible and responsive load-following generation, which complements variable renewable energy (VRE) sources like solar and wind. The scalability of gas infrastructure and relatively mature technology makes it an attractive option to ensure grid stability during this transition decade.
The push for additional gas power is also tied closely to PLN’s dedieselization program, which aims to replace diesel-powered generation across six key regional clusters: Nias, Kalimantan, Sulawesi-Maluku, Nusa Tenggara, North Papua, and South Papua. This initiative includes converting isolated diesel-based Power Centers into gas-fired plants fueled by LNG, improving system efficiency and significantly reducing GHG emissions and operating costs. Diesel generators, although fast to deploy, are high in carbon intensity and are no longer economically or environmentally sustainable as long-term solutions for remote electrification.
Indonesia’s direction is clear: while renewables must be accelerated, gas will continue to serve as a transitional backbone, particularly in hard-to-reach regions and for grid reliability. As a consulting firm deeply engaged in the natural gas sector, we commend the government’s pragmatic approach. However, we also underscore the importance of two key actions: (1) reaffirming that gas is a bridge, not a destination, by ensuring renewables remain the first priority in future investments; and (2) instituting robust methane emission management regulations in the power sector, given that methane has a global warming potential up to 84 times higher than CO₂ over a 20-year horizon. Ensuring both transition and integrity is the way forward.
