Campus ITS, ITS News – Commemorating 50 years of its contribution to the automotive sector, Toyota Indonesia collaborated with the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) in organizing the 100 Years National Seminar on the Indonesian Automotive Industry, Tuesday (11/10). The seminar, held at Graha Ten November ITS, reviewed the preparation for the era of net zero emissions with renewable energy technology.

Starting his speech with the history of the industrial revolution, ITS Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng IPU AEng, said the imbalance in carbon production has become a global problem. Indonesia has planned to play a role in reducing the amount of carbon to a neutral status by 2060. “One of them is by transitioning fossil fuel vehicles into electric ones,” explained the Chancellor with Ashari’s familiar greeting.

The problem, continued Ashari, is that 60 percent of Indonesia’s energy sources still come from Steam Power Plants (PLTU), which contribute to carbon dioxide (CO2). Therefore, the key to Net-Zero Emission (NZE) is mastery of technology that supports New and Renewable Energy (EBT).

Ashari stated ITS became the center for the birth of NRE technology research, especially in the automotive sector. Call it the GESITS electric motorcycle product, which has now been traded and exported. Additionally, the Department of Electrical Engineering professor revealed that ITS is currently designing an electric motorcycle for the mountainous areas of Papua with a charging station using solar energy.

Through this seminar, Ashari hopes that the collaboration between ITS and Toyota, which has been going on since 2014, will lead to a plan to run a vehicle engineering conversion program from fuel oil to electricity. “Let’s reduce carbon dioxide together,” he said, motivated.

In line with the ITS Chancellor, Vice President Director of PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMI) Nandi Julyanto stated that realizing the NZE target requires collaboration between sectors. According to Nandi, it is essential to spread the understanding of NZE, especially to the younger generation, because it will be a pioneer in the green economy era.

Nandi explained the automotive industry is currently transitioning towards electricity and environmentally friendly energy. Toyota is also committed to playing an active role in dealing with the NZE issue by focusing on reducing carbon emissions and fuel efficiency. The definite steps that have been taken are using NRE, among others, by promoting biofuel fuels and low-emission production processes.

The theme of the seminar is in line with the national emission-free target. The material was delivered by two keynote speakers who were present virtually, namely the Indonesian Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir BA MBA regarding the role of SOEs in the energy sector for the EBT transition to Net-Zero Emission (NZE), and the Director General of the Indonesian Ministry of Industry Dr. Ir Taufik Bawazier MSi on energy. Green for a sustainable automotive industry.

There were also several competent speakers in the field of emission control who were presented in this seminar. Among them were the Co-Founder and director of the Indonesia Research Institute for Decarbonization (IRID), Paul Butarbutar. He discussed the link between the low-carbon economic system and the EBT transition.

The second material was presented by an expert lecturer on climate change who is also former ITS Chancellor Prof. Ir Joni Hermana MSc ES Ph.D. about the influence of EBT on the environment and academic perspectives on challenges. At the same time, the third material was delivered online by Yoshiaki Ishimoto, Vice President of Toyota Daihatsu Engineering & Manufacturing, about the role of the automotive industry in the transition of EBT to NZE in Indonesia.

Not only that, in this national seminar, talk shows were also held by three agencies involved in the realization of NZE in Indonesia. The first speaker was the President Director of PT PLN (Persero), Dr. Darmawan Prasodjo, who discussed PLN’s strategy for the EBT transition to NZE. The second speaker was Gamal Imam Santoso, President, and Director of PT Pertagas, who spoke about the roadmap and energy transition at PT Pertagas for carbon neutral status. Finally, BRIN researcher Prof. Dr. Eng Eniya Listiani Dewi, BEng MEng MS, talks about the competitiveness and development of EBT Technology in Indonesia to support NZE.

Before the national seminar was held, a public lecture was also held, which was delivered directly by the Director of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia, Bob Azam, Monday (10/10). The general class, which took place at Theater A Building, ITS Campus, carried the theme Advance Automotive Green Technology Toward Carbon Neutral. On this occasion, to support the development of students, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia also handed over two units of machines as a means of practicum learning for ITS students.

Nandi hopes that this national seminar can prepare qualified human resources. To the students, Nandi advised them not to hesitate to innovate and to thirst for new things for the nation’s future. Closing his speech, he called for an invitation to be aware of technology and the environment through a rhyme. “Surabaya is the city of heroes, and Rujak cingur is the specialty. Let’s preserve the earth and the environment. Renewable energy is one solution,” he said, rhyming. (ITS Public Relation)

Reporter: Difa Khoirunisa