Low-carbon transitions in West Sumatra, Indonesia: gender and equity dimensions

The document examines how renewable energy transitions in West Sumatra, Indonesia, can either entrench or challenge existing social inequities. Through case studies of geothermal, micro-hydro, and biofuel projects, it highlights how patriarchal land management and closed decision-making processes exclude women and marginalized groups from benefits. It also analyzes the limitations of national LPG subsidies and grid electrification in reaching the rural poor, concluding that a gender-sensitive approach is essential to ensure just transitions.

• Indonesia's transition to renewable energy is hindered by heavy economic dependence on fossil fuels and revenue-sharing schemes that incentivize subnational governments to maintain coal and oil production. While Sumatra has a renewable energy generation potential of 196.2 GW, fossil fuels accounted for over 80% of its installed capacity in 2014.
• Community-led renewable energy projects can replicate traditional gender inequalities if women are excluded from decision-making. In a micro-hydro project in Pekonina Village, women benefited from the electricity for domestic tasks but remained excluded from project governance, often attending meetings only as substitutes for their husbands.
• Despite the matrilineal land transfer system of the Minangkabau people in West Sumatra, natural resource management is patriarchal. Men dominate land-use decisions and negotiations for sales or leases, often excluding women from critical formal decisions and the resulting benefits of land compensation.
• Renewable energy developments can exacerbate community tensions and economic inequality. In the case of the SEML geothermal project, the inclusion of only male village and clan leaders in compensation processes led to discontent and feelings of jealousy among those who did not receive benefits.
• National energy policies, such as the 'Zero Kero' LPG subsidy programme, often fail to reduce inequality because they primarily benefit wealthier urban residents. Poor rural women often pay inflated prices—up to twice the official subsidized rate—due to supply chain intermediaries.
• High connection costs to the state-owned electricity provider (PLN) create barriers for rural communities in West Sumatra, making decentralized renewable options more affordable. For example, households in Pekonina Village reported monthly costs of approximately US$ 3.5 from a micro-hydro plant, compared to US$ 15.0 for grid-connected households.

APA

Aung, M. T., Koski, J., Yonariza, Resurrección, B. P., Kartha, S., Mahdi, & Yuerlita (2020). Low-carbon transitions in West Sumatra, Indonesia: gender and equity dimensions. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/low-carbon-transitions-in-west-sumatra-indonesia.pdf

Chicago

Aung, May Thazin, Jessica Koski, Yonariza, Bernadette P. Resurrección, Sivan Kartha, Mahdi, and Yuerlita. Low-carbon transitions in West Sumatra, Indonesia: gender and equity dimensions. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2020. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/low-carbon-transitions-in-west-sumatra-indonesia.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Aung |first1=May Thazin |last2=Koski |first2=Jessica |last3=Yonariza |last4=Resurrección |first4=Bernadette P. |last5=Kartha |first5=Sivan |last6=Mahdi |last7=Yuerlita |title=Low-carbon transitions in West Sumatra, Indonesia: gender and equity dimensions |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=July 2020 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/low-carbon-transitions-in-west-sumatra-indonesia.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{aung2020lowcarbon, author = {Aung, May Thazin and Koski, Jessica and Yonariza and Resurrección, Bernadette P. and Kartha, Sivan and Mahdi and Yuerlita}, title = {{Low-carbon transitions in West Sumatra, Indonesia: gender and equity dimensions}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2020}, month = jul, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/low-carbon-transitions-in-west-sumatra-indonesia.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }