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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Energy & Infrastructure

Indonesia launches 100 GW solar power project to boost energy capacity

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • President Prabowo Subianto launched a massive 100-gigawatt solar power plant project in Bali, aiming for completion in under three years.
  • The initiative aims to significantly increase Indonesia's current electricity generation capacity of 88 GW, which relies heavily on fossil fuels.
  • The project requires an estimated $73 billion investment, is expected to save billions in energy subsidies annually, and create millions of jobs.

President Prabowo Subianto has officially launched an ambitious program to construct solar power plants with a staggering total capacity of 100 gigawatts (GW). The initiative, kicked off in Denpasar, Bali, on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, aims for completion in less than three years, a move that could dramatically reshape Indonesia's energy landscape.

Just for your information, currently our total electricity production is at 88 GW, from coal, oil, gas, and geothermal. And we will build 100 GW, and we are serious about it. Our target is 100 GW within three years. Can the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) do it in three years?

— PrabowoPresident Prabowo Subianto stated the current electricity capacity and challenged the Minister of Energy to meet the new solar power target.

Speaking at the launch, Prabowo highlighted that the nation's current electricity generation capacity stands at approximately 88 GW. This capacity is predominantly sourced from coal, oil, and gas, with renewable sources like geothermal energy playing a smaller role. "We will build 100 GW, and we are serious about it. Our target is 100 GW within three years. Can the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) do it in three years?" Prabowo challenged, as quoted from a live stream by the Ministry of ESDM.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia readily accepted the challenge, responding with a firm "Ready." The program's launch was synchronized across 14 other locations in Indonesia. In this initial phase, projects totaling around 5.2 GWp have been launched, with several already progressing through construction. Notable ongoing projects include the 46 MWp Tembesi solar plant (65% complete) and the 92 MWp Saguling PLTS (44% complete).

Ready

— Bahlil LahadaliaMinister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia responded to President Prabowo's challenge regarding the solar power project timeline.

Minister Bahlil estimates the investment required for the 100 GW solar power plant construction to be around $73 billion, exceeding Rp1,140 trillion. He projects that this massive undertaking could yield substantial savings, reducing annual energy subsidies by up to Rp73.9 trillion. Furthermore, the program is anticipated to generate approximately 5.52 million job opportunities. The cost for solar power generation in this initial phase is estimated between 5 to 6 US cents per kilowatt-hour, excluding battery costs.

The project will create approximately 5.52 million job opportunities.

— BahlilMinister Bahlil Lahadalia highlighted the significant job creation potential of the solar power initiative.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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