One of the The Dutch government support for NKRI  that they will extend assistance to the Papua provincial government to improve human resources capabilities in the field of renewable energy as a step to formulate an energy policy at local level.

"This assistance is given through the CASINDO project manager, and Papua is selected as one of five regions in Indonesia as the location of the renewable energy project," Casindo coordinator, Nico van der Linden said here on Friday.

Apart from Papua, the project also covered North Sumatra, Central Java, Yogyakarta and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

The capacity development and strengthening for energy policy formulation and implementation of sustainable energy projects in Indonesia (Casindo) is one of the components of the renewable energy program which will be implemented by the Dutch Embassy here.

Nico also said that Papua with its special autonomy status should be able to develop its renewable energy potentials and formulate the regional energy policy while economizing energy measures.

In addition, Nico expressed hope that a regional energy forum can be set for the discussion and formulation of energy policies at regional level.

This policy will be proposed to the local government for approval, he said, adding that it needs an active role of all the stakeholders in the region the government, industries and academicians.

Cenderawasih University has been chosen to implement a work program and make coordination with related parties, said Nico, who is also a researcher at the Netherlands Energy Research Center (ECN).

Casindo which has been operating from 2009 to 2011 was the continuation of the "Contributing to poverty alleviation through regional energy planning in Indonesia (CAREPI) project which has ended in 2008.

Source : ANTARA News