Labuan Bajo – The government continues to accelerate the provision of supporting infrastructure and facilities ahead of the 2023 ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara. One of them is by accelerating the presence of the electric vehicle ecosystem during the event.
The government said that at least 275 electric cars would be deployed to accompany the delegates and their entourage, including security officers, to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit which will be held in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara Province, this year.
Previously the use of electric cars had been carried out at the Group of 20 (Group of 20/G20) Leaders Summit on the island of Bali in November 2023, Indonesia is again trying to promote its commitment to energy transition through the electric vehicle program ahead of the 2023 ASEAN Summit.
The government revealed that at least 275 electric cars would be deployed to accompany the delegates and their entourage, including security officers, at the ASEAN Summit which will be held in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, this year.
In addition, around 105 units of electric motorbikes will also be used to help escort the delegates and become operational transportation for the participants.
For this reason, the state-owned electricity company PLN has installed around 100 units of public electric vehicle charging stations (SPKLU) consisting of ultrafast and slow charging.
“In total, all the charging units we need have arrived in Labuan Bajo and we will install them in a number of locations, including parking lots at all ASEAN Summit venues,” said PLN UIW NTT General Manager Fintje Lumembang in a recent statement. This.
He added that PLN has provided supporting equipment, including generators, Mobile Substation Units (UGB), and uninterruptible power supply (UPS).
“All EV infrastructure in Labuan Bajo is not only ready to support the ASEAN Summit, but will also help accelerate infrastructure development in the region,” said Lumembang.
Indonesia is currently on the path of its commitment to climate change and sustainable energy, especially by encouraging the national automotive industry to develop an EV ecosystem.
Previously, the country with the largest economy in Southeast Asia used its presidency at the G20 Summit last November to promote the use of EVs during the high-level event for delegates and participants. Local media said the G20 marked Indonesia’s transition to electric vehicles as a cleaner alternative energy.
In 2023, the electric vehicle ecosystem will remain one of the main focuses at the ASEAN Summit. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia earlier this year announced that among the priority issues at the Summit were food security, financial stability, energy security and health recovery.
“ASEAN is a promising region, and we have sufficient resources to develop the EV ecosystem and the blue economy as a new growth engine,” Deputy for Coordination of International Economic Cooperation at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Edi Prio Pambudi told Xinhua recently.
ASEAN member countries must join hands and support each other in developing the regional electric vehicle ecosystem by integrating the industrial sector from upstream to downstream, he added.
President Joko Widodo on March 14 said that for the ASEAN Summit, the government would promote Labuan Bajo as a super priority tourist destination in Indonesia.
Labuan Bajo is one of the popular tourist areas in Indonesia which is often referred to as New Bali by the local government. In addition, the fishing town is also a gateway for tourists to visit Komodo Island.
