With more than 219 million people, Indonesia is the world's fourth largest country. The nation's installed power plant capacity is more than 25,000 megawatts (MW), with the Java-Bali Grid accounting for approximately 18,000 MW. Since 1971, Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) has constructed 18 power plants in Indonesia with a total capacity of more than 9,500 MW, representing more than half of the capacity of the Java-Bali Grid and one-third of the national total.
With rising oil prices and increasing demand for electricity, there are big opportunities in the power plant business here, both for investors and EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contractors. As a major player in the field, MC is looking to capitalize on these opportunities.
One example is the development of a combined cycle power plant in Cilegon with a 740 MW capacity. This integrated power plant development was planned in line with the availability of gas from China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and the arrangement of funding from Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), while the land was secured by the project owner, a state-owned electric company. This project was concluded with the project owner just nine months after being proposed by MC. The contract is equivalent to US$345 million, with construction to be completed in August 2006.
Currently, there are some coal-firing power plant projects to be tendered. There are also some combined cycle power plant projects that already have fund allocation from JBIC, but are now awaiting confirmation of the gas supply. MC expects to actively participate in these projects.
Indonesia's economic waters are vast, covering some 5.8 million square kilometers, and the fishing industry has naturally played a significant role in the national economy. With an annual average catch of over five million tons, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) ranks Indonesia as the world's sixth largest producer of fish.
In recent years, tuna fishing has developed steadily in Indonesia. Indonesians first began tuna long—lining operations in 1991 with a small tuna fleet. This fleet has grown at an amazing pace and today there are about 1,500 tuna long—liners in Indonesia. Tuna, especially fresh tuna for sashimi, has become big business, and roughly 20 to 30 percent of fresh tuna from Indonesia is sold at Japanese auction markets by MC through its subsidiary Toyo Reizo.
Like many large cities, Jakarta faces problems with rush-hour traffic jams. The Jakarta city authority has taken steps to address the problem with its three-in-one traffic policy. The policy requires that private cars traveling along certain roads must carry at least three people during peak travel times. To compensate for these restrictions, buses traveling along these routes enjoy access to bus-only lanes. This helps the buses to pass through rush-hour traffic and makes them a more attractive option for commuters. Such efforts are helping to reduce congestion and travel time along Jakarta city streets.
With hundreds of ethnic groups speaking hundreds of languages and also maintaining countless local traditions, Indonesia is an incredible treasure trove of cultures. Below is a glimpse of what Indonesia has to offer.
The Ondel-Ondel of Jakarta's Betawi
The Betawi are the native people of Jakarta and Betawi culture is highlighted through a number of events. Each year in June, huge Betawi mascots called ondel-ondel can be seen during the Jakarta Anniversary Celebration. Standing approximately 2.5 meters tall, ondel-ondel delight the crowds with their large masks and springy, tinseled hair dresses.
The Saman Dance of Aceh
Saman is a popular dance in Aceh Province. Known as the "Dance of a Thousand Hands", it features eight to twenty performers, who kneel in a row. The dance starts slow and the tempo gradually builds. The performers make complex movements with their upper bodies, creating a sea of movement. At one instant, every second person thrusts forward while the other half simultaneously moves in the opposite direction. The audience is bombarded with dramatic visual changes—arms linking and unlinking; performers leaning left and right; and heads shaking wildly. Every movement is carefully synchronized, leaving no room for error.
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