Bakrie Group and Pertamina Develop Research Infrastructure at IKN

Jakarta – The Bakrie Group and Pertamina have agreed to develop a Shared Hub Infrastructure in the new capital, IKN Nusantara by signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday (March 26).

This MoU signing is a continuation of the Joint Statement of Collaboration signed at Stanford regarding plans for collaboration in research in the sustainability sector to be conducted by Stanford in Indonesia, in the presence of Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) last November.

CEO of Bakrie & Brothers, Anindya Bakrie stated that the development of the Shared Hub for the International Institute of Sustainability Indonesia (IISI) reflects a joint commitment to advance education and promote green economic development in Indonesia.

The Bakrie Group has also expanded its business into sustainable sectors such as transportation electrification and renewable energy to support the government in achieving the Net Zero Emission target by 2060.

"Educational advancement plays a crucial role in supporting Indonesia's new era at IKN. IISI will serve as a venue for various research activities, including research conducted by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability (SDSS), and will pave the way for the establishment of higher education institutions contributing to sustainable development innovation and clean energy utilization," said Bakrie in a statement on Wednesday.

According to Bakrie, IISI will serve as a collaboration platform between the private sector and the government, as well as the global and Indonesian academic community.

The project is targeted to be groundbreaking in IKN Nusantara in the second quarter of 2024.

Meanwhile, Pertamina's President Director Nicke Widyawati stated that Indonesia with its abundant natural resources and growing population has the potential to continue leading the energy transition in line with global trends.

"Pertamina is highliy committed to driving sustainability in Indonesia. This collaboration scheme can encourage synergy between state-owned enterprises, private sector, and world-class universities. Thus, it's not only about constructing physical buildings but can serve as the foundation for Indonesia's future," Widyawati explained.

She added that the national emission reduction target translates into concrete goals, namely a 31.89 percent reduction by 2030, which could reach 43.20 percent with international support.

Based on research by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), Indonesia, rich in natural resources, particularly biomass, has the potential to attract global investors with a value of USD 3.5 trillion in the green energy sector.

"The significant potential and challenges in energy transition must be addressed by increasing collaboration with all stakeholders. This development is expected to be a key driver for the sustainable and environmentally friendly development of the new capital city," Widyawati remarked.

In line with this, Head of the Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN), Bambang Susantono revealed that this collaboration aligns with the spirit of the Nusantara Capital to become a 'living lab,' or a living laboratory for the latest scientific knowledge for sustainable development.

"I appreciate today's collaboration between state-owned enterprises and the private sector to jointly support the development of the Knowledge Hub in IKN," said Bambang Susantono, Head of the Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN).

This development collaboration focuses on three main aspects. The first aspect concerns the Development of the Shared Hub Infrastructure itself, which will be built in a strategic location within the Edutown IKN area and will be part of the Nusantara Knowledge Hub.

The location will serve as a knowledge exchange center, including an innovation ecosystem for climate.

The second aspect, this collaboration will encompass research on AI-Based Critical Minerals. Critical minerals have crucial uses with no viable substitutes but face potential supply disruptions, thus defined as critical to the economy and national security.

Research on critical minerals utilizing AI-based exploration technology will contribute to sustainable resource management practices.

The third aspect relates to research on an Integrated Roadmap, which is an integrated approach to ensure alignment with the comprehensive principles of IKN development as a "forest city," emphasizing sustainable development and harmonious coexistence with nature.

Each of these three aspects will contribute to achieving sustainable development goals and net zero emission targets in Indonesia.