METI Riau Islands Chapter Officially Inaugurated at Polibatam, Supporting Batam’s Development as a Renewable Energy Hub

BATAM – Politeknik Negeri Batam (Polibatam) hosted the public introduction, official launch, and inauguration of the Regional Board of the Indonesian Renewable Energy Society (METI) Riau Islands Chapter on Saturday, 25 July 2026. Held at the Auditorium of Polibatam’s Main Building, the event also featured a seminar entitled “Energy Transition Towards National Energy Security” and brought together representatives from government, academia, industry, professional communities, and METI.

Acting Chairman of METI, Norman Ginting, expressed his hope that the Riau Islands would become a centre of innovation and a hub for renewable energy development. He noted that Batam’s strategic location and rapid industrial growth provide a strong foundation for developing various future energy sources, including hydrogen. Polibatam is also expected to produce applied research and innovations that support renewable energy development while serving as a strategic government partner in advancing clean energy policies as a development priority.

Deputy Governor of the Riau Islands, Nyanyang, expressed his hope that the presence of the METI Riau Islands Chapter would be aligned with the provincial government’s programmes. METI is expected to actively support renewable energy development, connect relevant stakeholders, and promote the implementation of clean energy initiatives suited to the characteristics and needs of an archipelagic region.

Director of Polibatam and Chairman of the METI Riau Islands Chapter, Bambang Hendrawan, emphasised the importance of collaboration among government institutions, higher education institutions, industries, and communities in delivering tangible and sustainable programmes. Polibatam is prepared to contribute by strengthening applied research, developing relevant technologies, preparing skilled vocational human resources, and providing a collaborative platform to support energy independence and resilience across the Riau Islands.

Such collaboration is particularly important considering that the Riau Islands’ electrification ratio reached 99.45 per cent in 2025, while the quality and reliability of electricity supply continue to vary among islands. A total of 112 isolated islands still rely on diesel-powered generators, and the utilisation of renewable energy remains limited.

One renewable energy initiative presented during the event was the 1 MW Pulau Sembur KDKMP Solar Power Plant Pilot Project. Integrated with an energy storage system, cold-storage facilities, an ice-making unit, and an agrivoltaic system, the project had reached 85 per cent construction progress and was targeted to begin operations in August 2026.

The inauguration of the METI Riau Islands Chapter is expected to foster a collaborative ecosystem capable of accelerating renewable energy projects, investment, applied research, technological innovation, and human resource capacity development throughout the region.

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