ITDP Indonesia, with support from ViriyaENB, held a series of events in Pekanbaru to mark the conclusion of the study titled “Reform Strategy and Roadmap for Public Transport Electrification in Pekanbaru, Surabaya, and Surakarta.” The two-day closing event (June 18–19, 2025) featured a field visit, a media workshop, and the official handover and public dissemination of the study’s key findings. 

The first day began with a field visit to three Trans Metro Pekanbaru (TMP) service points: STC Ramayana Bus Stop, MPP Bus Stop, and BRPS Terminal. The visit was attended by 15 media representatives, both local and national, and accompanied by the Pekanbaru Transport Agency, who provided on-site explanations of TMP service conditions, types of bus stops, terminal functions, and the city’s infrastructure readiness to support future public transport electrification. 

The event continued with a Media Workshop consisting of three sessions that explored strategies for urban transport decarbonization through the “compact city electrified” concept, examined the national context and progress of electrification, and presented city-specific roadmaps for implementation and potential national scale-up. 

The first session of media workshops introduced participants to the principles of sustainable transport planning (avoid, shift, improve) and the concept of a compact city electrified. The second session discussed national-level policies and targets, the roles of national and local governments in implementation, and existing challenges. It also spotlighted Pekanbaru’s initiative to allocate 5% of its regional budget for public transport. The third session focused on electrification roadmaps and proposed management contract models for Surabaya, Surakarta, and Pekanbaru. The recommendations include alternatives beyond the buy-the-service scheme, one-year electric bus pilots, and phased electrification based on priority routes. 

The events continued on June 19, 2025, with a handover and dissemination of the study findings. In his remarks, Southeast Asia Director of ITDP, Gonggomtua Sitanggang emphasized that electrifying public transport in the three cities is economically feasible and has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 66% by 2040. He also noted the potential for subsidy efficiency, which could support the introduction of new routes. “Public transport electrification can reduce subsidy requirements per kilometer per bus by up to 28%, creating major opportunities to reallocate the same subsidies toward new routes.” 

To mark the conclusion of the study, Gonggomtua Sitanggang, Southeast Asia Director of ITDP, officially handed over the final report to Ahmad Yani, Secretary of the Directorate General of Land Transportation, Ministry of Transportation. The handover was also witnessed by Acting Head of Pekanbaru Transport Agency, Sunarko; Head of Surakarta Transport Agency, Taufiq Muhammad; Acting Head of Surabaya Transport Agency, Trio Wahyu Bowo (joining online); and ViriyaENB Programme Manager, Cometta S. Guritno. 

In his keynote speech, Secretary of the Directorate General of Land Transportation, Ministry of Transportation, Ahmad Yani, acknowledged the early stages of public transport electrification in Indonesia, which is being advanced through collaboration between central and local governments and the private sector. He emphasized the importance of ongoing partnerships with ITDP, ViriyaENB, and other stakeholders in developing further studies on green mobility, such as walkable city roadmaps, transit-oriented development, and electrification of freight vehicles. “With shared commitment, we can build a greener transport system. Each small step we take today becomes a clean legacy for the future generations.” 

Pekanbaru Mayor, Agung Nugroho, expressed appreciation for the study’s results and reaffirmed the city’s commitment to achieving 100% electrified public transport by 2033. With three electric feeder buses already operating, he hopes for continued support for this program. He also urged the national government to set a 90% national electrification target, long with policies that assist budget-constrained cities. “This study provides a valuable foundation to accelerate infrastructure and regulatory development for electrified public transport,” he stated. 

During the event, study authors Kemal Fardianto, Syifa Maudini, and Rifqi Khoirul Anam from ITDP presented key findings. These included the rationale behind city selection and recommendations for parallel implementation of service reform and electrification. Tailored contract models were proposed: management contracts or performance-based contracts for Surabaya and Pekanbaru, and net cost contracts for Surakarta. Two quick wins were also identified as immediate priorities: improving infrastructure and accessibility at stops, and strengthening public transport information systems. To support successful implementation, ITDP emphasized the need for strong support from the national government through clear targets, certainty around battery electric vehicle (BEV) technology, alternative contract guidelines, fiscal incentives, and technical guidance for electric bus selection, charging systems, and electricity tariff setting. 

Catch the rerun on ITDP Indonesia’s YouTube channel