Indonesia needs a better power network for itself and ASEAN

Nation's far-flung renewable energy resources would be asset for bloc's grid

Ahmad Munawir Siregar and Michael Suryaprawira

September 13, 2023 17:00 JST

Indigenous children near the site of Indonesia's future capital Nusantara in East Kalimantan province: Kalimantan is generally short of power and lacking in adequate infrastructure. © Reuters

Ahmad Munawir Siregar is a member of the research staff of the Purnomo Yusgiantoro Center, a Jakarta-based think tank focused on energy, natural resources and defense. Michael Suryaprawira is a researcher at the center.

With both China and Western nations experiencing slowing growth, Southeast Asia is looking to be one of the world's fastest-growing economies this year, with gross domestic product expected to expand 5.2%.