The Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora) of the Republic of Indonesia has officially established a strategic partnership with the Directorate General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM). The agreement, signed in Jakarta, focuses on the synergy between the development of the sports industry and campaigns promoting the use of eco-friendly geothermal energy.
This collaboration is realized through the establishment of Geothermal Soccer Indonesia (GSI), a community integrating geothermal energy enthusiasts with the national football ecosystem. The program targets sports development around geothermal power plant operation areas while turning football into an effective medium for green energy education for the broader public.
Acting Deputy for Sports Industry Development at Kemenpora, Suyadi Pawiro, highlighted football's vast potential as a communication instrument. With a fan base reaching 160 million people in Indonesia, football is considered capable of driving the local economy through the sports industry, including support for MSMEs around renewable energy project sites.
General Chairman of GSI, Carson Hakama, explained that this initiative aims to mitigate social issues on the ground through an inclusive sports approach. Echoing this sentiment, General Chairman of the Indonesian Geothermal Association (API), Julfi Hadi, added that involvement in football activities serves as a highly productive informal communication medium for stakeholders in the energy sector.
This synergy is projected as an initial step towards the Indonesia Sports Summit 2026. The government hopes this cross-sectoral collaboration model will serve as a national benchmark in advancing a sustainable sports industry while accelerating the clean energy transition in Indonesia.
