Pertamina New Renewable Energy (NRE) has expressed its interest in investing in gas-based and renewable energy (RE) electricity provision in Africa. The plan was announced by Pertamina NRE CEO Dannif Danusaputro during his visit to South Africa on Friday, August 25th.
Pertamina is one of the state-owned enterprises (BUMN) that joined President Joko Widodo’s work visit to African countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and South Africa, on August 20, 2023.
During this visit, Pertamina NRE, a subsidiary of Pertamina focusing on clean energy, identified various business prospects, including gas-based power generation and RE.
“We hope to collaborate on investments with local partners. On the downstream side, Pertamina NRE has the potential to utilize the natural gas produced for electricity generation,” Dannif stated in an official release on Wednesday, August 30, 2023.
Exploring solar energy
Dannif highlighted that they’ve identified a significant demand for electricity in Africa, particularly for solar energy. He noted that South Africa, in particular, has favorable regulations in place.
He mentioned that several African countries are the target of Pertamina NRE’s interest. Specifically, South Africa has a solar energy potential of up to 100 megawatts (MW).
Previously, Pertamina had signed a memorandum of understanding with GUMA, a local company specializing in investment and infrastructure development in Africa, for cooperation in Kenya, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
This commitment involves cooperation in gas pipeline development, gas power plant development, and the establishment of electricity export facilities to South Africa, all of which will involve Pertamina NRE.
Strengthening national energy security
Vice President of Pertamina, Fadjar Djoko Santoso, stated that Pertamina is bringing several sub-holdings to explore collaboration potential in Africa. He hopes that this collaboration will strengthen national energy security while realizing the company’s role as a global energy corporation.
“We are open to all business collaboration opportunities that have a positive impact on Pertamina and the country,” he emphasized.
Fadjar also noted that, in addition to Gas and Steam Power Plants (PLTGU) and Solar Power Plants (PLTS), Africa also has geothermal energy resources that could be a potential investment destination for Pertamina NRE.
As a result, on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, Pertamina NRE subsidiary PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy Tbk. (PGE) signed a memorandum of understanding with Africa Geothermal International No 1 Limited (AGIL No 1) for geothermal development in the Longonot concession in Kenya. AGIL is a Kenyan company involved in geothermal development.
