Energy conservation measures in Indonesia

Indonesia is a country with a large, predominantly rural population in an early stage of development, which accounts for a low per capita income and energy consumption and a relatively small number of motor vehicles. It is also a major oil exporter. Oil is the predominant exported commodity and the principal source of government income. These facts set Indonesia in a category apart from most other countries in the region as far as energy is concerned. Heavily subsidized kerosene and gasoil, as well as firewood used for fueling domestic cooking stoves, are very important sources of domestically consumed energy. Yet any attempt at increasing the domestic price of kerosene automatically results in its substitution by firewood and increases the damage to the environment. Thus efforts at promoting efficiency in energy use in this area stem primarily from socio-economic and environmental considerations. Nevertheless action at promoting more efficient use of oil-derived energy is being carried out in order to increase the amount of oil available for export. This action has begun only very recently and is still in its initial stages. It began by educating people on the energy problem and raising awareness of its importance. This compaign is now being intensified to reach directly the consumers in all social strata of the population. Taking an inventory of the major energy consumers and assessing the way they use it will follow. This work has just begun. Therefore, it is too early to have meaningful statistical data on the subject.