Shipping company PT Pelayaran Bahtera Adhiguna (BAg) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with fuell cell company, PT HDF Energy Indonesia, to study the use of hydrogen technology in efforts to decarbonize the national shipping sector.

"This agreement is evidence of BAg's commitment to support [the government’s] energy transition program," BAg President Director, Tri Susanto, told the Global Hydrogen Ecosystem Summit (GHES) 2025 event, held at the Jakarta International Convention Center, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Hydrogen technology is seen as a long-term solution that can significantly reduce carbon emissions.

Tri cited that BAg has currently implemented onshore charging for ships during loading and unloading at the Suralaya PLTU Port in Banten, and the collaboration with HDF is a continuation of the decarbonization efforts.

HDF Energy Indonesia President Director, Mathieu Geze, emphasized that his party fully supports the transformation of clean energy in the maritime sector.

"Indonesia as an archipelagic country has great potential to adopt hydrogen technology in the maritime transportation system," Geze said.

The collaboration includes a study on the implementation of ship retrofitting with hydrogen fuel cell technology and the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel for BAg ships. This move is considered in line with State power utility company PT PLN's efforts to encourage the energy transition towards the 2060 Net Zero Emission target.

Through this collaboration, the two companies will assess the technical and economic feasibility of utilizing hydrogen as a clean and sustainable alternative energy for the shipping sector.

The signing of the MoU was witnessed by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia, French Ambassador to Indonesia Michel Oldenburg, PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo, and a number of other stakeholders in the energy and maritime sectors.