When world leaders arrive in Bali for the G20 summit, they will be picked up by EVs in a symbolic move presenting Indonesia’s commitment to the energy transition, as per Arab News.
The upcoming summit will take place on November 15 to 16, culminating the country’s presidency of the group of 20 biggest economies, more than 200 working group meetings and side events hosted all throughout the year.
The largest Muslim-majority nation and the world’s fourth most popular, Indonesia focused its G20 chairmanship on steering post-Covid pandemic recovery, digital transformation, and energy transition.
In addition, hosting G20 events this year has been an opportunity for Indonesia to promote its potential of becoming a regional hub for electric vehicle manufacturing—an industry the Indonesian government has been developing recently.
Indonesia prepares more than 1,400 EVs
Electric vehicles are set to be the only transportation mode during the Bali summit. The host country prepared more than 1,400 electric vehicles (962 cars, 454 motorcycles, and 36 buses) to accommodate delegates, security personnel and journalists in and around the main venues.
“The Indonesian government is very serious about entering renewable energy, which includes moving toward using electric vehicles,” said Adita Irawati, a transportation ministry spokesperson.
Indonesia’s emission goals by 2060
One of the world’s emitters of CO2, the Southeast Asia country announced in October a new target to cut emission levels by 31.89%, a mark more ambitious than its Paris Agreement pledge. Additionally, it hopes to reach net zero emissions by 2060.
Irawati stated the transportation ministry was committed to lessening exhaust emissions from fossil fuel-powered vehicles and that the Indonesian government aims to have 2 million EVs hit the roads by 2025.
“We have also developed an ecosystem for electric vehicles, so that Indonesia is not only a market or consumer of electric vehicles, but also a producer of electric vehicles, because we have the natural resources producing components for electric vehicles,” said Irawati.
Indonesia’s $5 billion deal with Tesla
Notably, Indonesia is the world’s largest nickel miner, a key component for EV batteries. In August, it signed a deal with Texas-based automaker Tesla for $5 billion worth of nickel products in the next five years.
EV introduction at G20 summit as a symbolic step
The introduction of EVs during the G20 summit appears as a symbolic step in meeting Indonesia’s net zero emission goals and a display of its potential to achieve them.
“It is a step in the right direction, and I am happy that Indonesia decided to show it to the world at the G20,” stated Agus Sari, environmentalist and chief executive of Landscape Indonesia, focusing on sustainable landscape management.
“The use of electric vehicles during the G20 shows a symbol of the beginning of a transformation.”
