Indonesian advocates demand halt to Cirebon Power Project

In an attempt to curb potential environmental and health risks in their community, Indonesian residents, along with members of local NGOs, the WALHI and WALHI West Java, visited Japan between May 22-24, 2023. Their mission: hand-deliver a petition, endorsed by 61 global organizations, to the Japanese government and prominent banks. The petition urged the immediate halt of financing to the Cirebon Unit 2 power plant and called for the early retirement of the Cirebon Unit 1 plant.

Invested in by Marubeni and JERA and financed by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and three mega banks, the Cirebon coal-fired power plant project is under intense scrutiny. Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, one of the implicated financiers, declined a face-to-face meeting with the concerned group, citing a busy schedule.

While the petition, originally written in Bahasa Indonesia, was delivered in person, its central messages carry implications for a global audience. The petition calls for the cessation of Unit 2’s construction and the closure of Unit 1, citing the detrimental impacts on the local community’s lifestyle, health, and culture since the project’s inception.

The group went on to argue against the efficacy of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, stating that they don’t truly address the community’s need for clean air and water and a conducive environment for fishing and salt-making.

The petition also raises serious concerns about corruption allegations linked to the project, warning about potential reputational risks for the banks involved. The early retirement of Unit 1 and the cancellation of Unit 2 are deemed urgent to ensure a ‘just’ energy transition that includes the restoration of the environment and livelihoods of the affected local communities.

However, the continuation of the Cirebon 2 power plant and the proposed “repurposing” of the Unit 1 plant through co-firing technologies such as ammonia have been met with resistance. With the trial against the former Cirebon regent in a bribery case relating to the issuance of the license for Cirebon 2 still ongoing, the petition also highlights a need for transparency and resident participation in negotiation processes.

The banks and the Japanese government are urged to prioritize responsible actions to prevent further harm to the residents who have endured the consequences of the project for the past 16 years. The full text of the petition is accessible for those interested in further details.