South Sumatra’s youth advance Indonesia’s Just Energy Transition through innovation and collaboration

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Content also available in: Bahasa Indonesia

Muce Mochtar, the ILO's IKI-JET Project Coordinator for Indonesia (right), presents a token of appreciation to Dr Ardiyan Saptawan, M.Si., Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at Sriwijaya University (left). 8/2026.

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra, Indonesia (Joint Press Release) - South Sumatra is one of Indonesia's provinces with a high dependence on the coal sector. As Indonesia moves towards a low-carbon economy, the province faces both challenges and opportunities in ensuring that the energy transition is fair and inclusive while creating decent work opportunities for local communities.

In response to these challenges, the International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with Sriwijaya University (Unsri), organized a workshop entitled "Powering the Future: Challenges and Opportunities in the Era of Energy Transition." The event provided a platform for dialogue among students, academics, government representatives and other stakeholders to deepen their understanding of a Just Energy Transition and encourage young people to play an active role in supporting the transformation towards a green economy.

Universities have a responsibility to prepare young people to respond to the challenges of the energy transition through innovation, skills development and collaboration..., particularly in South Sumatra as the province undergoes its transformation towards a green economy.

Dr Ardiyan Saptawan, M.Si., Unsri's Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP)

In his opening remarks, Dr Ardiyan Saptawan, M.Si., Unsri's Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), emphasized the strategic role of universities in generating research and innovation and developing human resources capable of supporting regional economic transformation. He noted that the energy transition is not only about shifting energy sources, but also about preparing communities and workers for changes in the economic structure.

"Universities have a responsibility to prepare young people to respond to the challenges of the energy transition through innovation, skills development and collaboration with government, businesses and communities, particularly in South Sumatra as the province undergoes its transformation towards a green economy," he said.

The workshop was organized as part of the ILO's Innovation Regions for a Just Energy Transition (IKI-JET) project. Through the project, South Sumatra and East Kalimantan have been designated as pilot provinces for advancing the implementation of a Just Energy Transition in Indonesia.

Economic diversification and skills development are therefore key to ensuring that communities can seize new opportunities in sustainable sectors. Young people also have an important role to play in driving this transformation through innovation, leadership and collaboration.

Muce Mochtar, ILO Indonesia's IKI-JET Project Coordinator

Muce Mochtar, ILO Indonesia's IKI-JET Project Coordinator, emphasized that the success of the energy transition should not be measured solely by emissions reductions, but also by its ability to create new and inclusive economic opportunities for workers and affected communities.

"The transition towards a low-carbon economy must go hand in hand with the creation of decent work and protection for workers and communities affected by the transition," Muce said. "Economic diversification and skills development are therefore key to ensuring that communities can seize new opportunities in sustainable sectors. Young people also have an important role to play in driving this transformation through innovation, leadership and collaboration."

Through the IKI-JET project and other strategic partnerships, the ILO continues to work with its partners and stakeholders to advance a Just Energy Transition in Indonesia. These efforts aim to ensure that the transformation towards a green economy not only contributes to achieving national climate targets, but also strengthens regional economic resilience through the creation of decent employment opportunities while ensuring that no worker is left behind.

More than 100 Unsri students from various faculties participated in the workshop alongside representatives from government, academia and development partners. Through the workshop, participants explored the opportunities, challenges and implications of the energy transition for the world of work, while learning about ongoing efforts in South Sumatra to strengthen regional economic transformation through skills development, economic diversification and inclusive social dialogue.

For further information, please contact:
Muce Mochtar
ILO's IKI-JET Project Coordinator for Indonesia
Email: [email protected]

Gita Lingga
ILO Senior Information and Communications Management Assistant
Email: [email protected]