The Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, stated that the increasing investment in the industrial sector has led to an absolute increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. He emphasized the need for a massive and structured decarbonization effort to address industrial GHG emissions.
His records from 2022 show that Business as Usual (BaU), or industrial activities without mitigation efforts, amounted to 292 million tons of CO2e. The reduction in industrial GHG emissions in that year was 53.9 million tons of CO2e. Therefore, the post-mitigation actual decarbonization or emissions amounted to 238.05 million tons of CO2e.
The trend shows that BaU has never decreased from 2015 to 2022. Meanwhile, reduction efforts have fluctuated, reaching their highest point in 2020 at 75.3 million tons of CO2e. This high figure is suspected to be due to activity restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The increase in reduction efforts for decarbonization resulted in a decrease in actual emissions to 200.47 million tons of CO2e in 2020, the lowest in the last eight years.
Agus stated that decarbonization efforts in the industrial sector, specifically concerning energy components, can be achieved through four methods.
First, through the replacement of energy sources with more environmentally friendly options such as solar cells and hydrogen. Second, through energy management and efficiency by utilizing equipment that can lower consumption. Third, through electrification strategies in the production process. And fourth, through the utilization of carbon, capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology.
"CCUS technology, alongside green ammonia and green hydrogen technologies, is considered a game-changer in the decarbonization process and energy transition of the industrial sector," said Agus at the 2023 Ministry of Industry Working Meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday (11/10/2023).
Therefore, Agus added that his ministry is pushing for the inclusion of expanded CCUS utilization for the industrial sector in the draft presidential regulation (Perpres) currently being drafted to regulate CCUS development.