2-7-2024 (MANILA) A new report has raised alarming concerns about the growing dependence on coal for electricity generation in the Philippines and Indonesia, despite international efforts and commitments to transition towards renewable energy sources.
According to data released by Ember, a London-based climate and energy think-tank, coal accounted for a record-high 61.8% of electricity generation in Indonesia in 2023, marking a marginal increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, coal’s share in the electricity mix jumped nearly 3% to reach 61.9%.
The findings underscore the challenges faced by these Southeast Asian nations in their efforts to ramp up the adoption of renewable energy sources and wean themselves off fossil fuels, particularly coal, which is a significant contributor to climate-warming carbon emissions.
Indonesia, the world’s fourth-most populous nation and Southeast Asia’s largest economy, has been the recipient of a $20 billion international deal aimed at assisting Jakarta’s transition away from coal. However, the report’s findings indicate that this financial support has yet to yield substantial results, as the country’s reliance on coal continues to grow.
The Philippines, on the other hand, has set a target of achieving a 35% share of renewable energy in its power generation mix by 2030. Nonetheless, the country’s progress towards this goal appears to be lagging, with coal maintaining a firm grip on the energy sector.
Ember’s analysis reveals that the rise in coal usage in both countries is driven by increasing electricity demand, coupled with a failure to adequately expand renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. While the regional average for wind and solar energy generation stands at 4.4%, the Philippines and Indonesia lag behind at 3.2% and a mere 0.3%, respectively.
Furthermore, the report highlights Indonesia’s declining hydropower generation, which fell by 10% last year, potentially due to drought conditions. This setback underscores the need for a diverse and resilient renewable energy portfolio to mitigate the impacts of climate change and ensure energy security.
“Overall, Indonesia and the Philippines are the two most coal-dependent countries in Southeast Asia, and their reliance on coal is growing rapidly,” the group warned, sounding the alarm on the region’s energy transition trajectory.
Notably, in 2022, Indonesia surpassed South Korea to become the world’s fifth-largest coal power generator, further exacerbating its carbon footprint and contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions.
The International Energy Agency has emphasized that to achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century, all coal generation that does not capture emissions must cease by 2040. This stark warning underscores the urgency for nations like the Philippines and Indonesia to accelerate their transition towards renewable energy sources and phase out their reliance on coal.
