Jakarta, December 1, 2025 – “Accelerating the decarbonization of the transportation sector must be a priority for the Indonesian government to achieve its zero-emission target in the coming decades. This is because the transportation sector is one of the three largest contributors to emissions in Indonesia. In 2024, this sector produced approximately 202 million tons of CO₂, or 25 percent of total national emissions. This figure demonstrates the enormity of the challenge to reduce emissions and support the achievement of the country’s climate targets,” stated Reananda Hidayat Permono, Program Staff for Energy System Transformation, Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) at the Webinar Loop Series #1 event titled “Electrification Towards Sustainable Transportation in Indonesia” on Saturday (November 29).
“Of all these emissions, land transportation contributes around 80 percent, making it a primary focus of the transportation decarbonization strategy. This is understandable, as private vehicles, motorcycles, and land freight dominate the movement of people and goods in Indonesia. This high dependence creates multiple problems, from air pollution to congestion and high consumption of fossil fuels,” explained Reananda.
The next problem, Reananda continued, is the high dependence on imported fuel. More than 90 percent of fuel consumption in the transportation sector comes from road vehicles, making Indonesia highly vulnerable to fluctuations in global oil prices. In 2023, the value of net fuel imports reached USD 22 billion, putting pressure on the trade balance and creating a significant economic burden on the country.
“Therefore, accelerating transportation decarbonization is not only an environmental issue, but also an economic and energy security issue. Reducing fuel consumption can directly reduce import pressure, save foreign exchange, and increase national energy independence. A strategic transition to low-carbon transportation can be a multidimensional solution for Indonesia,” emphasized Reananda.
According to Reananda, decarbonization efforts need to be viewed through an avoid-shift-improve framework. First, avoid encourages reduced travel needs through better spatial planning. Second, shift shifts people to more efficient public transportation modes such as trains and buses. Third, improve focuses on the use of cleaner technologies such as electric vehicles and biofuels.
“Over the past few years, the government has been promoting the use of biofuels (BBN) such as B40 and the development of battery-based electric vehicles (BEVs). However, electric vehicle penetration still faces several challenges, including public concerns about battery life, range, and uneven charging infrastructure. IESR data shows that the public charging network is still concentrated in Java and Bali and dominated by low-power chargers,” said Reananda.
On the other hand, Reananda highlighted the electrification of mass transportation as a very promising step. The Ministry of Transportation is targeting 90 percent of urban public transportation to switch to electric vehicles by 2030. Transjakarta itself plans to replace its entire bus fleet, more than 10,000 units, with electric buses by 2030. If this target is achieved, the impact will be significant in reducing emissions and improving air quality in major cities.
“Transportation decarbonization also requires policies that favor public transportation and sustainable mobility. Investments in public transportation systems, improving pedestrian facilities, providing bicycle lanes, and controlling private vehicle use must run parallel to electric vehicle incentives. Without changing people’s mobility patterns, electrification alone will not be enough to drastically reduce emissions,” said Reananda.