Indonesia Launches 100-GWp Solar Power Plant Construction Program

RRI.CO.ID, Negara – The Indonesian government launched the construction of solar power plants with a total capacity of 100 gigawatt-peak (GWp) on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. The project begins with 14 plants in six provinces, with a combined capacity of 5.3 GWp.

The 14 plants launched, either at the tender or construction stage, are located across West Java, Central Java, East Java, Bali, the Bangka Belitung Islands, and the Riau Islands. One of the projects launched is a tender to expand the capacity of the Cirata Solar Power Plant in West Java, Southeast Asia’s largest, to 1,250 MWp.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, in his remarks during the launch at the Gilimanuk Solar Power Plant in Jembrana Regency, Bali. hoped that the program could be completed within three years. This will allow Indonesia to quickly stop importing oil and gas to meet its domestic electricity needs.

"We will build 100 GWp, and we are serious. Our target is to achieve 100 GWp within three years," he said.

"With those 100 GWp, we must no longer import even a single barrel of oil. We must no longer import, God willing, as soon as possible. Not even a single cylinder of LPG," he added, as he also mentioned electricity from domestic geothermal, gas, and oil sources.

On the occasion, Prabowo pressed his “energy team” to complete the program within three years, and all of them indicated their readiness. The team includes Rosan Roeslani, head of Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara, and Darmawan Prasodjo, President Director of the state-owned electricity company PLN.

Meanwhile, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, said the launch is a follow-up to what Prabowo has planned in his speech at the Indonesian parliament – People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) – while delivering the state budget for 2027.

He said the project, estimated to cost around US$73 billion, could reduce emissions by up to 140 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year and generate a carbon economic value of about US$356.5 million.

"From this overall project, we can achieve annual savings in subsidies of Rp73.9 trillion (about $4.16 billion) and create approximately 5.52 million jobs," he said.