South Sumatra Discusses the Next Steps for a Just Energy Transition

Yayasan Mitra Hijau presented the progress of the IKI-JET Project and introduced the South Sumatra Women for Just Energy Forum, or FORBESS, during an audience meeting with the Regional Development Planning Agency of South Sumatra Province on 22 June 2026.

Held at the Bappeda office, the meeting was attended by 50 participants, most of whom were women, from government institutions, FORBESS, universities, civil society, a state-owned enterprise, the media and the GIZ consortium. Five representatives of Yayasan Mitra Hijau were also in attendance.

The meeting was convened to report on project activities undertaken from January to June 2026, discuss findings and recommendations, strengthen coordination with the provincial government and identify opportunities to integrate just energy transition issues into regional development planning.

Reporting on the IKI-JET Project

Hari Wibawa, Head of Bappeda’s Economic Affairs and Development Financing Division, opened the meeting. He noted that South Sumatra, as one of Indonesia’s largest coal-producing regions, faced both challenges and opportunities in adapting to a low-carbon economy.

He emphasised integrated planning, multi-stakeholder cooperation and community capacity building. He also welcomed FORBESS as a platform for strengthening women’s participation in development and decision-making.

Yayasan Mitra Hijau Executive Director Doddy S. Sukadri delivered introductory remarks before Project Coordinator Dicky Edwin Hindarto presented the project’s progress.

Activities undertaken during the reporting period included disseminating research on just energy transition, training on Carbon Economic Value, Green Business and Green Jobs training for young people, energy management and energy audit training, and focus group discussions with communities and stakeholders in Lahat and Muara Enim.

Yayasan Mitra Hijau also supported Regional Consultation Forums, meetings with local governments and participation in the National Policy Dialogue on Regional Economic Transformation in Coal-Producing Regions.

The recommendations gathered through research, surveys, discussions, training and community engagement covered just energy transition planning, public participation, environmental protection, green economic development, women’s and youth empowerment, small-business development, corporate social responsibility governance and the use of post-mining land.

During the discussion, Bappeda explained that South Sumatra was preparing a Regional Development Planning Document and asked whether information presented at the meeting could be incorporated into it. The recorded action points stated that Bappeda and relevant stakeholders would promote the integration of just energy transition, green economy and community empowerment issues into regional development planning documents.

Introducing FORBESS

FORBESS Chairperson Nurmalina presented the forum’s profile, objectives and work programme.

The forum was declared on 19 April 2026 and initially brought together 22 women’s groups: eight from Lahat, seven from Muara Enim and seven from Palembang.

FORBESS was established to strengthen women’s capacity and participation in the just energy transition, community economic development and decision-making. Its areas of work include capacity building; production, promotion and marketing; development and innovation; networking and partnerships; and communications.

With support from the IKI-JET Project, women’s groups had participated in training on leadership, gender-responsive advocacy and communication, product packaging, digital marketing, financial management, eco-enzyme production and recycled paper.

FORBESS presented short-, medium- and long-term programmes covering household waste management, waste banks, community enterprises, renewable energy, business management, participation in local development planning forums, product certification and environmental restoration in post-mining areas.

Planning for FORBESS Beyond the Project

The sustainability of FORBESS after the IKI-JET Project was a central subject of discussion.

FORBESS reported that it did not yet have dedicated funding. It had begun exploring possible partnerships with state-owned enterprises, including Pertamina, and planned to use the application connected to Bappeda’s CSR Forum. It also intended to follow up with companies in and around Palembang.

Bappeda stated that it would seek opportunities to involve FORBESS in provincial activities. It encouraged the forum to maintain communication with provincial government agencies and strengthen its programmes and partnerships.

IGM University invited FORBESS to share its work programme and explore collaboration through university community service and women’s empowerment initiatives. The university indicated that it could assess whether funding opportunities were available.

A representative of Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Sumbagsel explained the difference between longer-term programme-based CSR and charitable support. FORBESS was advised to define measurable objectives, map vulnerable groups, prepare an exit strategy and document its activities. These measures would help determine the type of CSR support most appropriate for its programmes.

FORBESS members also expressed an intention to obtain legal status so the forum could submit proposals to different institutions. FORBESS reported that 26 women’s business groups had been identified in Lahat and Muara Enim. These groups had expressed a need for training and capacity building to support the development of their existing enterprises.

Strengthening Coordination in South Sumatra

Bappeda announced a plan to establish a communication forum for non-governmental organisations working on energy transition. The forum would support coordination, information exchange and collaboration while reducing possible duplication between programmes.

The meeting concluded with several recorded next steps. Yayasan Mitra Hijau would continue coordinating with Bappeda and collecting community inputs and policy recommendations. FORBESS would strengthen its medium- and long-term work plans and explore partnerships with the CSR Forum, state-owned enterprises, private companies, universities and other institutions.

Yayasan Mitra Hijau and FORBESS would also continue capacity-building activities for women’s groups in entrepreneurship, waste processing, product marketing, green economy practices and sustainable small-business development.

FORBESS would expand its network among women’s groups in Lahat, Muara Enim, Palembang and other parts of South Sumatra. Bappeda and the other stakeholders recorded a commitment to maintain communication and coordination in support of an inclusive and sustainable regional economic transformation.

From the Meeting