Indonesia to bring clean energy to thousands of villages
The projects will be managed by the Merah Putih Village Cooperative (KDMP). Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, said the government is targeting the construction of 100 GW of solar power plants, creating a large market for the domestic battery industry.
Jakarta (VNA)♛ – Indonesia plans to roll out 100 GW of solar power plants across 80,000 villages.
The projects will be managed by the Merah Putih Village Cooperative (KDMP). Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, said the government is targeting the construction of 100 GW of solar power plants, creating a large market for the domestic battery industry.
Meanwhile, the CEO of Indonesia’s Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) said on August 12 that, if implemented effectively, the project would become the largest rural electrification initiative and distributed renewable energy generation programme in Southeast Asia, addressing the challenges of providing quality, equitable, and affordable energy for all Indonesians.
However, the IESR also warned that the ambitious solar energy programme faces challenges related to site selection and human resources, noting that constructing a 1 MW solar power plant and a 4 MWh battery system requires 30–50 workers.
In addition, coordination between ministries, local authorities, and stakeholders is needed. The IESR therefore called for the initiative to be transformed into a National Strategic Programme (PSN) and for a task force to be established to manage it./.
Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni credited the country's success in reducing forest and land fires to the effective use of meteorological technology and the synergy between air and land operations.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Deputy for Meteorology at the BMKG Guswanto informed that the system utilises data from several sources, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to produce fire risk maps marked with green, orange, and red indicators, meaning relatively safe, high potential and active fires, respectively.
The state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam from August 10–13 not only marked a significant leap in Vietnam – RoK relations, but also contributed to advancing peace and prosperity in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the bloc is stepping up both intra- and extra-regional cooperation toward this goal.
The one-stop centre is part of the government’s efforts to alleviate the impact of US tariffs, and more proactive measures will be rolled out to safeguard Thai exporters’ competitiveness and strengthen their position in the global market.
A team of ASEAN military attachés, led by the Malaysian military attaché to Thailand, is scheduled to visit Ubon Ratchathani province and the 2nd Army Region area on August 14. The purpose of their visit is to observe the situation and assess the impact on local communities.
Indonesia has officially launched its Sustainability Disclosure Standards (SPK) through a collaboration between Bank Indonesia, the Ministry of Finance, and the Financial Services Authority (OJK).
The ASEAN Foundation, with support from Google, launched AI Class ASEAN, a free learning platform to equip communities with the skills to thrive in the AI era. By training 800,000 local leaders across all ten ASEAN member states, the programme will empower 5.5 million people, including 400,000 Malaysians, with practical AI literacy.
The festivities kicked off with a roundtable discussion co-organised by the Vietnamese Embassy and the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), themed “Pakistan and ASEAN: Partners in Peace, Progress, and Regional Prosperity”.
The Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee’s Commission for Propaganda and Training on August 12 hosted a ceremony and exhibition marking the 75th anniversary of Mass Media and Publishing Day (August 13, 1950 – 2025).
Analysis by an economist found the US tariffs may reduce Thailand's exports by 8.16 billion USD, and when factoring in the trade diversion effect, they could drop by 457 billion THB (14.14 billion USD) this year.
Laos has reaffirmed its strong commitment to protecting forests and enhancing climate change adaptation, calling for deeper regional cooperation to safeguard ecosystems and promote sustainable development.
The import restriction will remain in effect until further notice, depending on developments in disease prevention and control efforts in affected countries, according to the Philippine Department of Agriculture.
Addressing the event, Indonesian Ambassador Dr. Bebeb A.K.N. Djundjunan, who is now holding the ACAT rotating chairmanship, highlighted ASEAN’s message on a more united, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable association. He reviewed key achievements of the group, such as community building and expanded cooperation with global partners.
The Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) has become a key mechanism in narrowing development gaps among member states, helping the CLMV fully implement the joint commitments and comprehensively participate in the bloc’s integration and community building processes.
Four other major Thai destinations - Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Hat Yai - also ranked among the region’s top cities for repeat visits, reflecting Thailand’s diversity and enduring appeal for travellers of all types.
In its Pre-Budget Statement 2026, the ministry stated that growth will be anchored by resilient domestic demand, particularly through private investment, stable employment, and income-enhancing measures such as targeted cash transfers and wage increases.
Singapore is at risk of chikungunya transmission as the number of reported cases this year has more than doubled compared to last year, the country’s Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) has reported.
On August 11, major RoK outlets, including Yonhap News Agency, KBS, The Korea Herald, and The Korea Times, provided prominent coverage of the talks held the same day between General Secretary Lam and President Lee Jae Myung, during which both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in economy, security, technology, and culture.
