Indonesia offers 23-GW Mamberamo Hydropower project to investors

 Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has invited investors to develop the Mamberamo River Hydropower Plant (PLTA) in Papua.

“If anyone is interested in hydropower, there is a PLTA project in Papua. The Mamberamo River has a potential capacity of 23 gigawatts (GW),” Lahadalia said at the Electricity Connect 2026 event

In addition to the Mamberamo River hydropower project, Lahadalia also offered a hydropower project in Kalimantan, namely the Kayan River project, which has a potential capacity of around 12 GW.

He assured investors that now is the right time to invest in renewable energy projects.

“Do not ask about natural resources now. Instead, I am asking all of you: Are you serious about investing in Indonesia or not?” Lahadalia said.

During his first bilateral visit to China from November 8 to 10, 2024, President Prabowo Subianto witnessed an agreement between state electricity company PLN and two major Chinese companies, Huawei and SDIC Power, aimed at strengthening Indonesia’s energy self-sufficiency.

The signing took place at the Indonesia-China Business Forum (ICBF) in Beijing on Sunday (November 10, 2024).

Through the two memorandums of understanding (MoUs), PLN reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a sustainable energy supply while supporting the Prabowo-Gibran administration’s efforts to achieve energy self-sufficiency in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the cooperation agreement between PLN and SDIC Power focuses on the development of the Mamberamo Hydropower Plant in Papua.

In addition to jointly generating demand for integrated renewable energy, PLN and SDIC Power are also conducting a joint study covering the business, technical, legal, and risk aspects of the hydropower project.

Lahadalia said cooperation with China would support Indonesia’s efforts to ensure that at least 60 percent of the country’s power plants use renewable energy within the next 10 years.