7 Keuntungan Penerapan Ekonomi Metanol di Indonesia

1. Sisa cadangan gas alam di Indonesia mayoritas memiliki kandungan CO2 yang tinggi dan jauh dari pasar sehingga lebih cocok  dijadikan metanol tidak LNG atau disalurkan melalui pipa.
2. Indonesia adalah negara kepualuan, sehingga membutuhkan bahan bakar cair yang mudah disimpan, dipindahkan, dikonsumsi dan diubah bentuknya dan yang paling murah biaya produksinya adalah metanol.
3. Indonesia mempunyai sumber energi primer yg sangat bervariatif sehingga untuk mengutilisasi semua fasilitas produksi, distribusi dan pemakaiannya secara efektif harus mempunyai satu medium penghantar (energy carrier), yang paling layak secara teknis dan komersial adalah  metanol.
4. Metanol bisa dibuat dari berbagai sumber energi terbarukan seperti  geothermal, biomassa, dll sehingga jaminan keberlangsungan produksinya di masa depan tinggi.
5. Kesediaan Metanol bisa menjadi penggerak industri fuel cell yg pengembangannya akan memberikan keunggulan komparatif industri manufaktur di Indonesia.
6. Metanol secara teori dapat diproduksi di seluruh pulau besar di Indonesia sehingga memberikan ketahanan ekonomi setempat dan membantu menjaga integritas wilayah NKRI.
7. Penggunaan Metanol dapat membantu meningkatkan akses masyarakat terhadap energi yang harganya terjangkau tanpa memerlukan subsidi pemerintah pusat sehingga memberikan perimbangan kesejahteraan antara masyarakat urban dengan masyarakat rural dan antara penduduk pulau Jawa dengan luar Jawa tanpa membebani APBN.

Our Biggest Dilemma: Indonesia's Energy Production vs Energy Consumption per capita Over the Year

In 1971, Indonesia started its role as one of the world's prominent energy producers. The world's population at that time was around 3.7 billion and all of the ASEAN countries were still in early developing stage. All of ASEAN countries (except Singapore) consumed less than 1 TOE/capita. (see chart below)

Fast forward to 1994, Indonesia has tripled its Energy Production than its 1971 level and yet the Energy Consumption per capita stayed below 1 TOE/capita. During the same period several ASEAN countries has surpassed the number 1 TOE/capita and Singapore even multiplied its 1971 level by the magnitude of 6, surpassing several developed countries such as UK and Australia. (see chart below)

In 2007, Indonesia almost doubled its Energy production than its 1994 level, surpassing Australia and UK however its consumption level stayed stubbornly below 1 TOE/capita. By this time, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand has increased their energy consumption per capita over and far above 1 TOE/capita. (see chart below)

While the world's population is multiplying from 3.7 billion (1971) to 7 billion (2011) which at the same time increased its consumption of energy per capita by several magnitudes over and above 1 TOE/capita, Indonesia is stuck below 1 TOE/capita while quadrupling its Energy production. How could this happen? is it simply because Indonesia is an archipelago country which significantly hinders the ability of its people to access affordable energy or there is other factor at play? And where did our energy go over these years? Are we selling off our most valuable assets without any regards to our own future? Shouldn't we increase the people's access to affordable energy as well, not just the nation's production capacity?

This question should be addressed by Indonesia's current and future Government if Indonesia does not want to lag behind from the rest of the world.