Yogyakarta, 18 March 2019 – The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol) UGM signed a cooperation agreement with Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) on Monday (18/3).
This agreement was laid due to the mutual concerns of Fisipol UGM and PGN on the future of global energy management. According to Fisipol UGM, energy is the key to economic development in this industrialized world. Demands for energy will always increase, as the developed states consume massively while consumption is increasing in the developing states. Through this cooperation, Fisipol UGM wishes to ensure that Indonesia will formulate the proper strategies.
“Research is the main focus of this cooperation, in which it will be managed by the Department of International Relations Fisipol UGM. “Total Diplomacy in the Energy Sector” is the name of this research,” as stated by Anadya, representative from the Global Engagement Office (GEO).
Institutions that will be involved in this program are Fisipol UGM, the Department of International Relations and PGN that will fund this program. PGN was represented by Ms. Desima Siahaan, the Director of Human Resources and General Affairs Division, while Fisipol UGM was represented by Dr. Erwan Agus Purwanto, M.Si. as the Dean of Fisipol UGM. The output of this research is expected to become the foundation of Indonesia’s diplomacy in energy management.
“Fisipol and PGN believe that total diplomacy is important in order to secure our energy supply, to control energy sources and to market our biodiesel products. Total diplomacy is our capability to maximize the potentials of diplomacy that we have and involves various sectors, such as the education, business, media and transnational activism sectors,” as stated by Muhammad Rum, IMAS, member of the Fisipol UGM-PGN cooperation drafting committee and the Secretary of the Department of International Relations.
Besides to develop research, this cooperation also reflects the cooperation between Fisipol UGM, a higher education institution, and PGN, a state-owned enterprise (BUMN), particularly in the energy sector. This cooperation will bring positive impacts for Indonesia, as it improves synergy between sectors.
“Hopefully, this cooperation can accelerate the transition process, from dependency on fossil fuels to the widespread use of renewable energy,” Rum stated.