Jakarta – An environmentalist group in Indonesia expressed its disappoint in President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo for officiating the groundbreaking of a 2,000 megawatt coal-generated power plant in Batang, Central Java.
Arif Fiyanto, climate and energy campaigner with Greenpeace Indonesia, argued that the Batang power plant remained under dispute as local residents had yet to let go of some 20 hectares of the plant's total concession to Bhimasena Power Indonesia (BPI) as the operating contractor.
The project itself had been delayed for four years over land disputes, and BPI had failed three times to meet its deadline for financial closing in the unfinished land procurement process.
"President Jokowi should have listened to the aspirations of Batang residents who are against this dirty energy project," Arif said in a published statement on Saturday.
"President Jokowi should have prioritized the rights of Batang residents over corporates' interests. The safety and interests of Batang residents should not be sacrificed for investment and development," he added.
Arif also pointed out that several ongoing legal cases should hinder the groundbreaking process, such as Batang residents' lawsuit against Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) as the project's main source of funding – providing about 70 percent of the Rp 56 trillion ($3.9 billion) investment – and also against the Central Java government, which issued the land procurement permit.
"It seems like President Jokowi had been receiving the wrong information [about the Batang power plant project] from his subordinates. The groundbreaking of Batang coal power plant is still illegal because several requirements have not been met," Arif said. "President Jokowi's action could hurt his reputation on the global stage."
Joko is aiming to implement a 35,000-megawatt electricity program during his term, about 60 percent of which will be powered by coal. Greenpeace Southeast Asia and Harvard University recently released a study over the dangers of coal-generated power plants, particularly for residents of nearby villages.