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Grafik perekonomian Indonesia saat ini

Las Vegas with Its Gambling Concept Set in Singapore

Kamis, 28 Januari 2010 | 17:46 WIB

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JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Singapore legalized casino gambling in 2005, and in 2006, Las Vegas Sands gained the permit to build the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, which includes a casino complex. The Marina Bay Sands is confident that its casino won't raise social issues.

Thomas Arasi, CEO of Marina Bay Sands, in his press release, Thursday, at Balai Kartini, Jakarta, stated, "Indonesia will be the main market for Marina Bay Sands." The press then asked whether the casino would raise concerns, considering that most Indonesians are moslems and gambling is prohibited in Islam.

The CEO answered that the casino is actually only three percent of the total complex, and that each of the iconic features of the Marina Bay Sands, such as the casino, hotel and skypark, museum, convention center, crystal pavillions, and waterfront movable platform, are all self-contained.

"So if you don't want to go to the casino, you don't have to." Of course the entrances to the casino will also be closely guarded so children won't stray there by accident.

He referred again to his presentation about the Marina Bay Sands' vision to be an integrated one stop travelling centre. So there is something for everyone, and you don't have to go to the places you're not interested in.

100 Companies in Tax Arrears of Rp. 17.5 Trillion

Jumat, 29 Januari 2010 | 12:58 WIB

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JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Unbelievable. The Directorate General of Taxation records that within the last five years, since before December 31, 2009, there are 100 companies with tax in arrears that sum up to Rp. 17.5 trillion, or 33.7 percent of the total tax in arrears, which is Rp. 52 trillion.

Thursday, the Directorate General of Taxation submitted the list of tax debtors to the Commission XI of the House, which is in charge of finance and banking. "Those are all the tax in arrears for the last five years," said the chief deputy of Commission XI of the House, Melchias Marcus Mekeng.

A number of government enterprises are included in the top 100 major debtors list, among which, PT Pertamina, PT Garuda Indonesia, PT Jamsostek, and PT Bank BNI Tbk.

Unfortunately, Melchias didn't breakdown the debt figures for each of those companies. The Director General of Taxation, Mochad Tjiptardo, also didn't reveal the numbers of the companies' debts. But clearly, "They all must pay," commented Tjiptardjo.

The Directorate General of Taxation is doing various endeavors to collect the debts. They would even go as far as confiscating assets, including what's deposited in banks or from tax debtors that don't show a good will to pay their tax in arrears. This can be done by blocking bank accounts, interception, or even gijzeling (a form of confiscation).

Mass denials

However, a number of companies in the list deny of having tax debts in arrears. "We're ready for data confirmation because we have all our tax payment proofs," said Gandhi Sulistyanto, director of Sinar Mas Group, the mother-company of PT Pabrik Kertas Tjiwi Kimia and PT Pindo Deli Pulp and Papermills, which is included in the list.

Similar denials come from the managing director of PT Jamsostek Hotbonar Sinaga. He even stated that his company has over-paid their tax and has restitution rights from the retirement fund tax deposit, which has been deducted by the bank, with an amount of Rp. 1.4 billion.

Finance director of PT Bank Bukopin Tri Joko Prihanto suspects that his company's tax debt in arrears come from the transactions of its syariah units. However, "the issue is still in dispute, because the government hasn't determined whether Islamic syariah units are subject to tax or not."

Said Didu, secretary to the state minister of state enterprises also admits that part of the government's tax debts in arrears are still in dispute. But, "We will double check and facilitate a meeting between state-owned enterprises and the Directorate General of Taxation." (Kontan/Martina P., Lamgiat S., Roy Franedya, Ade Jun P./C17-09)

Dream Job That Offers A Lucrative Option

Dream Job That Offers A Lucrative Option

Rabu, 27 Januari 2010 | 11:28 WIB

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You can meet up with your customer at a restaurant or cafe, and while you're there you might even meet other potential customers

KOMPAS.com - Being an insurance agent has become a lucrative option nowadays, and for very good reasons too. Selling insurance products gives a lot of advantages.

According to Ginawati Djunaedi, Chief Agency Officer of Allianz Life Indonesia, there's no special requirement to be an insurance agent. Anyone, from various background, can apply to be an agent. The essentials are our personality and a strong will to achieve success.

You don't have to wait for an opening at the company either. You can apply this instant. The company would welcome your application and process it. Afterward of course there would be trainings. You'd be given materials about company background, insurance products, tips to win customers and how to explain the benefits of insurance, and many others besides.

Training periods differ from one to the other companies. Some have it in just days, some in weeks. After becoming an official agent, the company would still have other trainings in the future to sharpen the agent's skills.

According to Fonny Torar, an insurance agent for Bumiputera 1912's Shared Life Insurance (AJB) is better off already having benefitted from an insurance. Therefore, the agent can perform convincingly during a presentation of the many kinds of insurance products. If you have a regular insurance agent, you can contact the agent so at least you can consult about this possibility.

It doesn't take a big capital

Unlike other businesses, selling insurance products don't take up much capital. You don't have to own a certain amoung of capital to start. All the products are provided by the company. All you have to do is market them to potential customers.

At most, you'd need to spend for transport and communication, and once in a while for entertaining in order to win the customer. If you know several potential customers who know each other, you could gather them all at once, so it's more practical and economic.

Flexible time

Being an insurance agent isn't like being other employees who are bound to certain office hours. Most of an agent's time is spent away with customers. Some visit the customers's home, some to their offices, and some make appointments in malls of cafes.

For this reason, many house-wives are interested in being insurance agents. They can work and gain extra income without abandoning their families. They just need to be careful with time management.

One more thing you need to keep in mind. Flexible working time also means that you must be willing to come to the customer anytime you are required. It's likely that the customer might ask for you to come during weekends. An insurance agent's job also has the aspect of giving the best service for customers.

Although the working hours are very flexible, the company would still impose a rule so that the agent's performance can be monitored. They'd ask for an agent to regularly report all their activities and achievements. If not in person at the office, then the agent can report through phone or e-mail.

Enticing Commission

One of the most attractive aspect of the insurance field is the commission. Though an agent doesn't have a fixed salary, you can earn a living from commissions. The commissions vary according to the sold policies, but generally they're nominally lucrative.

The higher the value of the policy, the more commission they gain. For example, for AJB you can earn a commission of 30 percent from the value of the policy. So if the policy is worth Rp. 10 million, then you're commission is Rp. 3 million.

That's the commission per policy. "If in a month you can sell policies to four people (Rp. 10 million each), then you can earn Rp. 12 million," said Rizal Rais, branch manager of KCE III AJB. This is very profitable, isn't it?

Without spending much, you can gain profit. The starting capitals are only being congenial and diligent in looking for customers. In the future, you can have a brilliant career in this field.

Fro-Yo Business, Such a Sweet Profit

Fro-Yo Business, Such a Sweet Profit

Rabu, 27 Januari 2010 | 16:10 WIB

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Yoghurt, believed to have many beneficial properties for one's health

KOMPAS.com - Frozen yoghurt is an urban trend in Jakarta nowadays. Almost all shopping centres have cafes or take-away booths selling frozen yoghurt, plus some ice cream mix and various delicious toppings. The dairy product is believed to have the property of rejuvenation and clearing one's skin.

Within the last two years, at least 75 brands of frozen yoghurt, or fro-yo, have been circulating in Indonesia. Not all have survived, some rise only to fall into obscurity. But some, are budding and expanding.

One of the fro-yo pioneers in Indonesia is PT Berjaya Sally Ceria (PT BSC), owner of the Sour Sally brand. Though only 1.5 year old, Sour Sally, that serves the premium segmentation, has expanded to 36 outlets. These outlets are spread over several major cities in Indonesia, such as Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, and Denpasar.

Considering the enthusiastic response from people, PT BSC is weighing the option of offering a franchise called Yogu Buzz. "We're deliberately creating a second brand before offering the franchise so that the market segment would spread better," said Sagita Kwee, Brand Marketing Manager for Sour Sally, who is also in charge of the Yogu Buzz franchise.

The plan is to give Yogu Buzz a lighter pricing compared to Sour Sally; around Rp. 14,500 per cup. As a comparison, a cup of Sour Sally yoghurt costs around Rp. 17,500 to Rp. 64,000.

Yogu Buzz's outlets won't be like Sour Sally's boutique cafe concept. They will only be take-away booths. And also, Yogu Buzz only sells personal size fro-yo, or single scoops. "Yogu Buzz's slogan is 'Fro-Yo for Everyone'," Sagita said.

Though a second brand, Sagita ensures that PT BSC, as the master franchiser of Yogu Buzz will supply import quality materials.

The interest for this franchise is tremendous. It was only released last November 2009, but so far there have been 300 people interested in it. But as the starting stage, PT BSC has only chosen 5 to 10 franchisee around Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi. "We don't want to be too aggressive."
 
If you're interested, no need to worry. You can still join. The next selection process for the Yogu Buzz franchise is next April.

Yogu Buzz has set licensing fees around Rp. 350 million to Rp. 450 million. In return, the franchisee gains licensing rights, free material supplies for a month, production machines, all the professional tools, display booth, and an estimate of the yearly tenant fee. "The rest we would detail during a meeting with the potential franchisee," said marcus Kandou, Marketing Communications and PR Director for Sour Sally.

Sagita estimates that if one Yogu Buzz booth could earn Rp. 3 million per day, then the franchisee's capital would break-even in a year.

According to Bambang N. Rachmadi, franchise observer and also lecturer at the University of Indonesia, the business prospect for frozen yoghurt in Indonesia is still prime. His reason, "The Indonesian people's market potential is very big and the consumers' per capita income is estimated to rise."

Bambang is also very supportive of local franchises such as Yogu Buzz, and advises that "It's better for Yogu Buzz to develop its own simple business format." He also hopes that the new franchise would offer franchise prices that aren't too high. "So it can reach all levels of the people.

Former Century Bank Fund Found in Hong Kong and Switzerland

Former Century Bank Fund Found in Hong Kong and Switzerland

Rabu, 27 Januari 2010 | 06:01 WIB

KOMPAS IMAGES/KRISTIANTO PURNOMO

The Attorney General Hendarman Supandji

SURABAYA, KOMPAS.com - Attorney General Hendarman Supandji said former Bank Century funds had been found in a number of bank accounts in Hong Kong and Switzerland. "We have sent a team to investigate the  Bank Century funds in Hong Kong and Switzerland," he said here on Tuesday.
   
He said the funds of the bank that was bailed out by the government in 2008 totalling US$650,592,005,942.000 in Hong Kong were kept at Standard Chartered Bank. He said other funds totalling 406,000 Singapore dollars and US$388,845,415.00 were also found in Hong Kong.
   
With regard to the funds in Hong Kong the Attorney General’s Office had already named two suspects, namely Hisam Alfaruk and Rafat Ali Rifki respectively British and Pakistani nationals. Other Bank Century funds were found  in Dressner Bank of Switzerland totaling  US$220 million, he said.

"We have been working with the governments of Hong Kong and Switzerland. We are investigating it as a money laundering case," he said after inaugurating a high prosecutor’s office.
   
He said after the investigation process is completed he would submit the dossiers to the police. "Let them be grouped with the case being investigated by the police," he said.
    
"Some of the funds are also kept in Dressden and Britain. We are still investigating them all. We are predicting it will be completed on January 28," he said.

techniques of how to do piercing in the ATM machine

readers may be more cautious in conducting transactions at ATM machines.

1. Beginning

In this picture look someone is doing a transaction at an ATM.

2. Install Trap


Actually, he again put a device in the slot where the ATM card is inserted. (Here's the Bad Guy!)

3. Always Ready Standby

This course is very risky. -2 so that criminals are usually working in groups, as seen in the picture there is his friend oversees outside. Keep looking if there anyone see what his friend do. or there may be "potential victims" that will go into the ATM.

4. The Victim

Now that he's the victim - Very Unlucky Guy (and it could be you) that enterthe room after the trap is attached. He includes the usual ATM card to make transactions.

5. Trouble Comes

When finished transacting, strangely ATM card can not removed from the machine. "Swallowed". .

The victim is being confuse, "Whati is happening?" Maybe that what in his mind at that moment.

And if you see the picture on the top left corner ...

In this picture the criminal pretending to offer the victim that confused,panic and not alert, a help. The main purpose of the criminal is to know the PIN number of the victim's ATM card that "swallowed". How?

7. Getting a PIN Number

This nice helper convince the victim that how to issued the ATM card is by pressing the PIN number and at the same time he will press the button "Cancel" "Enter". The point he wanted to know how the hell the victim's PIN number is. In this picture you can see the criminal reply freely to see what aja button is pressed by the victim (nremember 6 digit PIN number is piece a cake).

8. The Useless Effort

After trying many times (and of course in vain) the Helper will convince the victim reply card is completely swallowed by the ATM machine and advised the victim to contact the Bank

9. Removing the card back

Security situation under control after the "helper" that is actually the "criminal" will come back again to issue an ATM card trap device that he installed before. Not only the card that he get,but also the PIN number.

10. The Escape

from hours listed in the yg CCTV recordings can be known he only takes 24 seconds to act, and according to the bank's criminal record was successfully made off with money from the account of $ 4000
11. Secret Weapon

And it is used as a tool in addition to reply made of paper x-ray films (if you ever had a rontgen photos you'll know). Why use paper x-ray films? The reason is simple lip color is the same as the card slot on the ATM machine! we do not know what color of paper x-ray film that our local criminal use is.

12. How to install

This tool is included in card slot with this position. At the end of his 2-fold and glue that can be attached to the outside and inside of the lips of ATM card slot.

13. Invisible right?

By fitting reply "correct" the paper said the film barely noticeable especially for those not aware. 14. Why Can Not Exit The card?

To prevent the card out from the slot (after the normal transactions performed) two sides of the trap device is cut to form a gap to catch the cardthat will come out of the machine.

15. How to Take card

Easy right? The criminals with just pull the folding paper.

Banks Must Reimburse Customers Money That Had Been Stolen Through ATM

JAKARTA (Pos Kota) - Bank Indonesia has ordered banks to reimburse customers who burglarized through automatic teller machines (ATMs). Until last Thursday, customers who burglarized money through ATMs across Indonesia nearly USD 5 billion.

In addition to reimburse the customer, the bank also asked to replace a suspected ATM card was stolen data. In addition the bank also asked to provide understanding and lessons to customers how to avoid ATM burglary. One of them is not easy to provide customer data to anyone.

"From the bank's latest report, up to this day there is no significant change in the potential for material losses on the previous day, which is around Rp 5 billion from the four banks," said Chief Public Relations Bureau BI Johansyah in Difi A press release at Jakarta on Thursday.

This means that banks have been able to overcome these problems, so that the society remains safe to use ATM cards as usual.

BI also has asked banks to check and improve the security of ATM machines and EDC (Electronic Data Capture) systems and both physically or location.

With this incident, the BI also appealed to the customer is always researching and observing conditions when using an ATM machine or EDC.

Ways of Avoiding Illegal Practices

Some tips that can be used by communities to avoid illegal practices on the ATM card by unauthorized parties is to protect the confidentiality of the PIN.

Protecting the confidentiality of your PIN, among others, by way of changing your PIN periodically, and closed by hand when entering your PIN so that the PIN is not seen by others, not moved to give the PIN to another party who seems to be a bank clerk and asks customers to name or enter a PIN number .

In addition, customers also must consider the physical conditions surrounding the ATM and, if there is anything suspicious, do not expect customers to use ATMs and immediately reported to the nearest bank or to the authorities.

At the time of transaction using an ATM card in the "merchant" (a store that cooperates with the banks), the customer is expected considering the EDC tool, if there are tools (devices) are attached to the suspicious EDC or other suspicious things, borrowers are suggested to transact and immediately reported to the nearest bank or to the authorities.

BI also expects customers to immediately block the ATM card transaction if found irregularities and find ATM locations that are relatively safe to transact. (Ant / Binsar)

The Reason Why SBY keeps Sri Mulyani

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesia’s president dismissed talk that he plans to fire his reformist finance minister by the end of February over the minister’s role in the late 2008 bailout of a small bank, a local newspaper reported late on Monday. Presidential spokesman Julian Pasha was quoted in the Jakarta Post’s online edition as saying the talk was “not true”, hours after a Golkar Party official, who declined to be named, told Reuters the minister may be replaced “by the end of February”.
The conflicting comments from within President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s coalition highlight a lingering political risk facing the otherwise improving prospects for Southeast Asia’s largest economy. The departure of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, a top reformer in the cabinet, would deal a severe blow to the president’s drive to reshape the economy into a more efficient one, efforts that have won broad praise from global investors.
Bambang Soesatyo of the Golkar Party early on Monday had said that Anggito Abimanyu, head of the finance ministry’s fiscal policy agency, would be the best replacement for Indrawati if she stepped down, but presidential spokesman Pasha denied that. “The information is not true. There is no official statement about changing (Sri) Mulyani (Indrawati) and Anggito Abimanyu,” Pasha was quoted saying.
Chief Economics Minister Hatta Rajasa, a close confidante of Yudhoyono, also earlier denied plans for any imminent cabinet reshuffle. Indrawati could not be reached for comment. Golkar is headed by tycoon Aburizal Bakrie, an old-style politician who has long resisted Indrawati’s reforms, resulting in tensions within Yudhoyono’s government.
Local markets and credit default swaps showed a muted reaction to the reports, but investors kept a wary eye on the saga, with the key focus on whether Yudhoyono would be able to find a successor capable of maintaining the reform drive. “The markets are concerned about the continuity of reforms and policy. Market sentiment could turn bad,” said Andry Asmoro, an economist at Bahana Securities. “The political risks are likely to increase if (she) quits.”
Some Scepticism
But some analysts were sceptical President Yudhoyono would sack his finance minister — who remains popular with the public and foreign investors — as he would be seen as bowing to pressure from non-reformers and could risk weakening his own leadership.
“I cannot conceptualise that the president would do something so silly. It would be an admission of defeat and itwould reveal an incredible chink in the armour,” said Kevin Evans, a Jakarta-based election analyst from Pemilu Asia.
“It would say ’You can bully me to do what you want’.” Aninda Mitra, senior analyst at ratings agency Moody’sInvestors Service in Singapore, said the political process would not seriously hurt Indonesia’s overall creditworthiness. Indonesia’s debts are still classified as non-investment grade due to concerns about corruption and unfriendly business environment in the country.
As finance minister, Indrawati made headlines for tackling the most notoriously corrupt departments. She cleaned up the tax and customs departments within the finance ministry,introducing more transparent practices and getting rid of those caught taking bribes.
Both Indrawati and Vice President Boediono, under attack from non-reformers over their decision in late 2008 to bail out Bank Century, have said the move was aimed at preventing the bank’s troubles from snowballing into a wider financial crisis.
Analysts have priced in the possibility of Indrawati’s ouster regarding the scandal over the 6.7 trillion rupiah($729.4 million) government rescue of Bank Century, a Reuters survey showed last week.
The two technocrats, Indrawati and Boediono, were widely expected to play a critical role in attracting foreign investment into one of the region’s fastest growing economies and a member of the Group of 20 leading economies.President Yudhoyono was re-elected in July on the back of his government’s economic policies, reforms, and efforts to tackle corruption.

Hidrogen Sebagai Sumber Energi Masa Depan dan berdampak besar bagi pertumbuhan ekonomi Indonesia

Pada masa kita hidup sekarang ini, sebagai manusia hidup kita begitu tergantung pada mesin.Sekarang saat anda membaca tulisan saya ini dan melihat ke sekeliling anda, saya bisa pastikan tidak satu pun yang di sekeliling anda itu yang benar-benar lepas dari ketergantungan terhadap mesin, baik langsung maupun tidak. Bangunan tempat kita berteduh, jalan yang kita leati, pohon yang ditanam di halaman bahkan Cicak yang berjalan di dinding pun berjalan di dinding dengan bahan-bahan yang dibuat dengan mesin.Sekarang, nasi yang kita makan juga diproduksi dengan mesin, mulai dari pengolahan lahannya, pupuknya, proses pemisahan kulit dan bijinya semua dilakukan dengan mesin. Komputer yang kita pakai, AC yang mendinginkan ruangan kita, baju yang kita pakai, bahkan dua anak lelaki kembar saya yang masih dalam kandungan istri saya pun saya ketahui jenis kelaminnya menggunakan mesin.Mesin membuat jarak di muka bumi ini menjadi tidak lagi berarti. Berkat mesin kita dapat bertemu dengan orang di belahan manapun di planet ini dengan mudah, baik hanya secara virtual maupun fisik.Sementara itu, mesin sendiri hanyalah ALAT. Mesin hanya bisa berjalan kalau ada ENERGI, tanpa energi tidak ada mesin, tidak ada mesin tidak ada peradaban modern. Karena itulah dalam peradaban modern ini ENERGI menjadi isu yang paling besar yang penguasaannya diperebutkan dengan ketat oleh semua negara, perebutan kuasa atas sumber energi ini tidak jarang sampai menimbulkan perang.Selama bertahun-tahun belakangan ini, bahan bakar fosil yaris menjadi satu-satunya sumber energi di planet ini. Sehingga tidak heran kalau tahun-tahun belakangan ini pula kita pun menyaksikan bagaimana wajah dunia babak belur akibat perebutan kuasa atas sumber utama penghasil energi ini.Belakangan setelah penggunaan energi fosil dengan skala masif terutama dalam seabad terakhir ini, kita pun dihadapkan dengan berbagai masalah. Ketika dibakar untuk menghasilkan energi, bahan bakar fosil ini melepaskan karbon ke udara. Pelepasan karbon ini menyebabkan polusi dan merusak ozon, membuat bumi yang kita diami semakin panas. Meningkatnya produksi karbon hasil pembakaran bahan bakar fosil ini belakangan disinyalir telah menjebabkan fenomena pemanasan global (Global Warming). Meskipun fenomena pemanasan global masih didebat kesahihannya oleh beberapa ilmuwan, tapi tidak bisa tidak tetap saja fenomena ini menimbulkan kecemasan massif bagi warga dunia.Masalah dengan bahan bakar fosil ini tidak hanya sampai di situ. Masifnya konsumsi bahan bakar ini dalam seabad terakhir, membuat fakta menipisnya cadangan bahan bakar ini tidak bisa kita hindari.Sementara itu, ketika cadangan bahan bakar fosil semakin menipis, kebutuhan atas energi bukannya turun malah semakin hari semakin tinggi. Akibatnya sesuai prinsip ekonomi Suplai dan penawaran, maka tanpa bisa dihindari harga bahan bakar ini pun semakin hari semakin melambung tinggi.Hal ini tentu sangat mengkhawatirkan, karena kalau sampai terjadi dan manusia belum menemukan alternatif lain sebagai sumber energi, peradaban medern pun akan segera berakhir bersamaan dengan habisnya cadangan bahan bakar fosil.Karena alasan itulah, belakangan kita lihat mulai banyak usaha umat manusia untuk mulai memanfaatkan sumber energi terbarukan dengan lebih maksimal. Sumber energi terbarukan itu bisa berupa tenaga matahari, angin, air, panas bumi, bio massa bahkan gelombang laut.Sejauh ini, meskipun beberapa sumber energi itu terbukti efektif dalam mengurangi konsumsi bahan bakar fosil, tapi hampir semua sumber energi terbarukan itu tidak bisa menyaingi bahan bakar fosil dari segi kepraktisan. Bahan bakar fosil memiliki sifat yang mobil, gampang disimpan dan dipindah-pindahkan. Tidak statis seperti banyakan sumber energi terbarukan itu.Sebenarnya selain berbagai sumber energi terbarukan seperti yang saya sebut di atas, masih ada satu sumber energi lain yang sangat potensial menggantikan bahan bakar fosil sebagai sumber energi utama. Sumber energi alternatif pengganti bahan bakar fosil ini bernama Hidrogen. Dibandingkan semua energi terbarukan seperti yang saya sebut di atas Hidrogen memiliki beberapa keunggulan antara lain ; bahan bakar hidrogen bersifat mobil seperti bahan bakar fosil yang kita kenal selama ini. Bedanya, tidak seperti bahan bakar fosil, pembakaran hidrogen tidak menyebabkan polusi karbon.Ketika terbakar, hidrogen melepaskan energi berupa panas dan menghasilkan air sebagai bahan buangan (2H2 + O2 —> 2H2O). Sama sekali tidak mengeluarkan karbon. Jadi penggunaan hidrogen sebagai bahan bakar sangat membantu mengurangi polusi Karbon Mioksida dan juga Karbon Monoksida sehingga sekaligus mengurangi efek rumah kaca (meskipun pembakaran hidrogen juga menghasilkan polutan berupa Nitrogen Oksida dalam jumlah kecil).Dibanding bahan bakar fosil yang umum kita gunakan selama ini, Bensin dan solar, pemakaian hidrogen sebagai bahan bakar jauh lebih efektif dalam pembakaran.Sebagai perbandingan 1 pound bensin yang dibakar pada suhu 25 derajat Celcius dan tekanan 1 atmosfer akan menghasilkan panas antara 19.000 Btu (44,5 kJ/g) s/d 20.360 Btu (47,5 kJ/g), sedangkan 1 pound Solar bisa menghasilkan panas antara 18.250/lb (42,5 kJ/g) s/d 19,240 Btu (44,8 kJ/g).Hidrogen sendiri dalam kondisi yang sama (25 derajat Celcius dan tekanan 1 atmosfer) dengan berat yang sama mampu menghasilan panas 51.500 Btu/lb (119,93 kJ/g) sampai 61.000 Btu (141,86 kJ/g) yang berarti hampir 3 kali lipat dari panas yang bisa dihasilkan oleh pembakaran bensin dan solar.Keunggulan lain dari Hidrogen adalah jumlahnya di alam ini sangat melimpah, 93 % dari seluruh atom yang ada di jagat raya ini adalah Hidrogen, unsur yang paling sederhana dari semua unsur yang ada di alam ini . Tiga perempat dari massa jagat raya ini adalah Hidrogen. Di bumi sendiri bentuk hidrogen yang paling umum kita kenal adalah air (H2o).Hanya, meskipun memiliki banyak keunggulan dibanding bahan bakar lain, hidrogen juga memiliki kelemahan. Kelemahan Hidrogen (H2) ini sebagai bahan bakar adalah sifatnya sebagai sumber energi yang tidak bersifat langsung (primer) sebagaimana halnya gas alam, minyak atau batubara. Hidrogen adalah energi turunan (Sekunder) sebagaimana halnya listrik yang tidak bisa didapat langsung dari alam, melainkan harus diproduksi dengan menggunakan sumber energi lain seperti Gas alam, minyak, batu bara, nuklir, energi matahari dan berbagai sumber energi lainnya.Tapi meskipun hidrogen tidak bisa dilepaskan dari kelemahannya itu, tetap saja dalam skala kecil sudah banyak negara di dunia memanfaatkan hidrogen sebagai bahan bakar. Negara itu sebut saja Amerika serikat misalnya. Sebagai negara yang pengkonsumsi energi terbesar di dunia, Amerika Serikat adalah salah satu negara yang paling aktif mengembangkan riset untuk mengembangkan Hidrogen sebagai bahan bakar. Pada tahun 1992 pemerintah Amerika mendirikan The Hydrogen Technical Advisory Panel (HTAP), untuk memberikan masukan kepada Menteri Energi tentang potensi hidrogen.Kebanyakan dari hidrogen yang diproduksi sampai hari ini (di Amerika maupun di negara lain) adalah hidrogen yang didapat dari gas alam (CH4) melalui proses yang disebut "steam reforming". Tapi yang lebih potensial untuk dilakukan di masa depan adalah memproduksi hidrogen dari air melalui proses elektrolisis atau langsung menggunakan reaksi fotokimia.Seperti yang saya katakan sebelumnya, hidrogen itu adalah sumber energi sekunder yang diproduksi dengan menggunakan sumber energi lain. Pada kenyataanya hidrogen dan listrik memang bagaikan dua sisi yang berbeda dari satu mata uang yang sama. Hidrogen bisa diproduksi dengan menggunakan tenaga listrik melalui proses elektrolisis, sebaliknya hidrogen bisa digunakan untuk memproduksi listrik bebas polusi melalui proses elektrolisis pula.Karena bersifat sekunder itulah, untuk tahap awal penggunaan hidrogen sebagai bahan bakar, kita harus mengkombinasikan penggunaannya dengan bahan bakar primer (hibrida). Jadi fungsi hidrogen lebih sebagai bahan bakar pendamping yang berfungsi membantu mesin mengurangi konsumsi bahan bakar utama.Memadukan teknologi elektrolisis yang menghasilkan hidrogen dari air dengan teknologi pembakaran menggunakan bahan bakar bensin atau solar kepada kendaraan ataupun mesin industri terbukti cukup efektif mengurangi konsumsi bahan bakar fosil antara 15-50 %. Jadi kalau saja teknologi seperti ini bisa diterapkan secara massal, konsumsi bahan bakar fosil tentu bisa diturunkan, disamping menghemat penggunaan bahan bakar fosil, penggunaan teknologi ini juga secara efektif mengurangi produksi karbon yang hari-hari belakangan ini menjadi pokok perdebatan para pemimpin berbagai negara yang sekarang sedang melakukan konferensi di Kopenhagen.Untuk di Indonesia sendiri, kalau saja teknologi ini bisa digunakan secara masif, hal itu tentu akan banyak mengurangi tingkat kepusingan pemerintah yang setiap tahunnya harus mengeluarkan uang dalam jumlah yang tidak sedikit untuk mensubsidi BBM.Karena daya tarik teknologi pemanfaatan hidrogen yang diproduksi dari air melalui proses elektrolisis inilah sekarang banyak negara yang sudah mulai mengembangkan teknologi ini. Negara-negara itu di antaranya Malaysia, Cina, Jepang dan tentu saja Amerika Serikat.Kemudian pertanyaannya Indonesia kapan?. Kalau untuk mengembangkan teknologi ini kita harus menunggu pemerintah dan para sarjana yang memiliki sederet gelar di berbagai universitas terkenal di negeri ini yang mengambil inisiatif, maka jawabannya adalah WALLAHU ALAM. Ini disebabkan karena seperti yang sudah-sudah, orang-orang yang duduk di pemerintahan Indonesia dan juga para sarjana dan akademis di negara ini jarang sekali ada yang mampu berpikir di luar bingkai. Para sarjana dan akademis di negara ini lebih banyak terdiri dari orang-orang yang terlalu bangga dan silau dengan gelar yang mereka miliki.Kalaupun ada ilmuwan di Indonesia yang cukup brilyan maka biasanya dia akan dihadapkan pada kurangnya dukungan dana untuk mewujudkan ide brilyan-nya. Di Indonesia ini, ide dan pemikiran hebat tidak pernah dihargai secara wajar. Beda dengan katakanlah Taiwan yang jika ada orang yang punya ide yang cukup cemerlang, maka pemerintah akan memberi dukungan dana dan fasilitas untuk melakukan penelitian, yang semuanya akan dibayar jika penelitian itu sudah menghasilkan. Maka tidak heranlah jika akhirnya negara asinglah yang mengambil manfaat dari banyak bakat brilyan yang lahir di negeri ini.Kembali ke hidrogen, sebagaimana juga untuk mengembangkan Pariwisata, untuk mengembangkan teknologi hibrida hidrogen dan bahan bakar fosil ini pun, di Indonesia kita hanya bisa berharap kepada SWASTA. Karena di Indonesia ini pemerintah sebagaimana biasanya hanya bisa menjadi pahlawan kesiangan yang baru muncul belakangan, setelah masalah terselesaikan.