The future's bright: influencing global energy transitions

Across the globe, countries are working towards energy transitions to ensure a move to low-carbon economies. It's a complex journey, and requires vision, drive, and coordination to make it happen. In Indonesia, where almost 75% of energy comes from the use of coal, oil, and natural gas, the race is on to make the vision of a low-carbon economy a reality.

The first step of many journeys of change is getting people together - using ideas and insight from diverse experiences to build a path forward. So, when colleagues from our Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP) were looking to deliver a public lecture on energy transitions in Indonesia, they knew exactly who to get on board - our Indonesian alumni community!

Connecting communities to drive change

With a whole host of alumni from CEPMLP based in Indonesia, connected across organisations at the heart of energy transitions, we co-hosted the public lecture Energy Transition Towards a Low-Carbon Economy.  

Through this partnership between the University; PT PLN (Persero), Indonesia’s state-owned electricity company; SKK Migas, an Indonesian government agency responsible for managing oil and gas activities across the country; the British Embassy; and the British Council we also celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations between the UK and Indonesia. 

Over 250 attendees, including government officials, international partners, academics and University of Dundee alumni working in the energy sector, came together at the PLN headquarters in Jakarta to discuss key research and strategies aimed at achieving Indonesia’s 2060 Net Zero Emissions target. 

Through group discussion and collaboration, attendees looked to leverage policy, finance and technology expertise to accelerate the energy transition towards a low-carbon economy. 

 The event was opened with a captivating performance by the Defence University’s Pipe Band, paying tribute to Scottish culture, generously supported by Scotland, the Brand, and our incredible Indonesian alumni led on organising the logistics of the event. 

CEPMLP has a strong and vibrant global network of graduates, with over 6,000 alumni now based in over 80 different countries. Many alumni hold senior positions in their country of residence, including Indonesia, and it is with thanks to these alumni that the University has established vital partnerships with key institutions across the globe. 

Alumnus Paj Djoko Suroso, SKK Migas Chairman, reflected on his experience at the University of Dundee, "My journey at Dundee played a crucial role in shaping my leadership approach. There, I gained a global perspective on energy law, policy and management which has been instrumental in navigating Indonesia's evolving energy sector."

This global perspective, championed by CEPMLP's graduates internationally, continues to drive inter-continental ambitions for a cleaner, greener world, and ensures low-carbon solutions become a reality in our futures.