Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) established a cooperation agreement with the South Korean Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment, on the clean energy cooperation in the form of a memorandum of understanding (MoU).”This MoU serves as a foundation for both parties in promoting the energy transition, particularly clean energy, in accordance with the capabilities of each country. (Renewable energy) is good for our future and its utilization should not be delayed any longer,” ESDM Minister Bahlil Lahadalia noted in a statement on Wednesday.The announcement of this agreement took place during a meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at the Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday.Amid rising geopolitical tensions and the threat of a global crisis, Indonesia continues to strengthen strategic partnerships with East Asian countries, including South Korea.According to Lahadalia, these efforts are aimed at reinforcing the foundation of national energy sovereignty and independence.In addition, volatility in fossil fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict has encouraged both Indonesia and South Korea to uphold stable energy supply commitments.Within the MoU framework, cooperation between the two countries is focused at several strategic sectors, ranging from the development of renewable energy such as solar, wind, and geothermal, to the utilization of future energy sources such as nuclear and hydrogen.This collaboration also includes strengthening energy storage systems (ESS), energy efficiency, bioenergy, and waste-to-energy processing, he continued.Furthermore, the development of supporting infrastructure is being encouraged, including smart electricity grids, electric vehicle charging stations, and the battery industry from upstream to recycling.”Including support for integrated energy systems on energy-independent islands for equal distribution of clean energy,” Lahadalia remarked.He also expressed hopes on this collaboration to facilitate technology transfer, increase investment value, and encourage the development of competitive human resources.During the meeting with President Lee, President Prabowo highlighted the importance of Indonesia and South Korea’s bilateral ties amid global uncertainty.”South Korea has extraordinary industrial and technological capabilities, while Indonesia has abundant resources and a large market,” Prabowo stated.Echoing this, President Lee said that Indonesia and South Korea have advanced their bilateral ties to the highest level.He also considered Indonesia to have a stable role as a key energy source, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal.”For more than 50 years of diplomatic relations, Indonesia and South Korea have become mutually supportive partners and friends. Indonesia is the first overseas investment destination for Korean companies,” he said.The electric vehicle battery factory owned by South Korean company Hyundai LG Indonesia (HLI) Green Power has been operational in Karawang, West Java, since July 2024.The first phase of this project, with an investment value of US$1.1 billion, includes the production of 10 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of EV batteries, equivalent to 32.6 million battery cells and enough to power approximately 150,000 electric vehicles.