Indonesia, Philippines seek to reduce coal dependency
Indonesia and the Philippines are leading the surge in coal dependency in Southeast Asia, with their reliance continuing to grow rapidly in 2023.
A heavy machinery unload coal from barges into trucks to be distributed, at the Karya Citra Nusantara port in North Jakarta, Indonesia, January 13, 2022. (Photo: Reuters)
Jakarta (VNA) - Indonesia and the Philippines are leading the surge in coal dependency in Southeast Asia, with their reliance continuing to grow rapidly in 2023.
Data recently released by the energy consultancy Ember shows that last year, the Philippines outranked Poland, China, and Indonesia in the percentage of coal in its energy mix, becoming the most coal-dependent country in the region.
The percentage of electricity generated from coal in the Philippines surpassed that of Poland, China, and even Indonesia in 2023. The country saw a significant increase of 2.9% in its annual coal production rate, from 59.1% in 2022 to 61.9% in 2023.
Meanwhile, this percentage in Indonesia slightly increased to a new record high of 61.8%, surpassing Poland in 2023 after having already outpaced China in 2022.
According to Ember, these figures highlight the challenges that the two Southeast Asian nations face in achieving their green energy goals. The share of coal in electricity production in the Philippines increased for the 15th consecutive year in 2023, despite its goal to reduce reliance on this fuel to less than half of its total electricity production by 2030.
Ember reported that both Indonesia and the Philippines are lagging behind other ASEAN countries in developing wind and solar energy. They have struggled to improve their renewable capacity due to the associated costs./.
The Ministry of Investment or Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) has assured that the issuance of business identification numbers (NIB) via the Online Single Submission (OSS) remains unaffected by a cyber attack on the temporary national data center (PDNS) 2, which was detected on June 17.
The Indonesian and Philippine navies have launched a joint patrol in their maritime border of Sulawesi and Mindanao waters to strengthen their capabilities against piracy and terrorism, the spokesperson of the Indonesian navy said on June 30.
Experts are calling for diversify Indonesians' eating habits, using other starches to replace rice because the domestic rice supply does not meet demand.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
Univers said in a statement that the new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak's transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
Indonesia is taking new steps to improve protections for fishery workers, amid concerns over low wages, harsh working conditions, and limited access to social welfare.
The 2025 ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Connectivity Forum that opened in Jakarta on June 17 reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a connected, resilient future by advancing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan.
The desk will serve as a service centre providing market intelligence, business licensing guidance, facilitating business cooperation, identifying potential investment projects, and harmonising regulatory policies between the two parties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the Asia-Pacific region accounted for half of global energy consumption and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Despite this, regional countries, including eight of ten ASEAN member states, remain committed to climate goals, including net-zero emissions and tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
