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The United States is partnering with Indonesia to encourage the development of clean energy and improved water supplies for the Indonesia people. On August 12th, the United States Trade and Development Authority (USTDA) awarded separate grants to PT Medco Downstream or Medco, an Indonesian energy company, and Persatuan Perusahaan Air Minum Seluruh Indonesia, or PERPAMSI, an association of Indonesian drinking water companies.
The grants encourage energy diversification and improved water supply services in Indonesia and are important components of the Comprehensive Partnership that the United States and Indonesia are building together.
USTDA Acting Director Leocadia Zak signed the grants at separate ceremonies held in Jakarta. Medco's President Director Djatnika S. Puradinata signed on behalf of Medco, and the signing was observed by U.S. Embassy Jakarta's Deputy Chief of Mission Ted Osius. PERPAMSI's Secretary General Ir. [Engineer] H. Azhar Latif signed on behalf of PERPAMSI which was observed by U.S. Embassy Jakarta's Administrative Counselor Michael Mullins.
The $320,924 grant to Medco will fund a feasibility study for a sweet sorghum-based ethanol production facility in Papua Province, Indonesia. The proposed facility will provide an important energy source to meet the growing transportation fuel demands in Indonesia and improve infrastructure such as roads, irrigation systems, power generation and public facilities.
"Because studies have shown that sorghum is environmentally sustainable, USTDA is supporting the development of an ethanol production facility that uses sorghum as its feedstock," said Acting Director Zak. "USTDA support for this project will encourage expansion and progress in the development of the biofuels industry, which will in turn stimulate the usage of clean energy and stimulate job growth."
Through a separate $266,824 grant to PERPAMSI, USTDA will support a pilot program at a regional water company to demonstrate technology solutions to minimize water losses as Indonesia seeks to expand potable water supply to underserved communities.
"Indonesia has made clean efficient water supply a priority," said Acting Director Zak. "This grant will help Indonesia reach its goal of increasing clean water delivery coverage and service quality to and additional 78 million people by 2015. With the help of this USTDA-funded study, water companies will be able to minimize future water losses due to such causes as leaks, metering, lack of billing and collection, and illegal connections, thereby providing clean water to more customers."
As part of the United States-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership and through the work of the U.S. Trade and Development Authority and other agencies, the United States is committed to work with Indonesia to help provide clean water and clean energy for Indonesia and the world we all share.
