Bahlil Asserts Government Authority over Coal Downstreaming Policy
According to Bahlil, the direction of coal downstreaming development cannot be undertaken arbitrarily as it must align with government directives. He emphasised that the authority to determine downstreaming policy rests with the Downstreaming and Energy Security Task Force and the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/BKPM.
"Downstreaming is managed by the Downstreaming Task Force and the Minister of Investment and Downstreaming. So beyond that, you should just ask PTBA — they are not the regulator," he stressed.
Bahlil's firm stance indicates that the government seeks full commitment from state-owned mining enterprises in realising the national downstreaming programme, particularly the strategic DME (dimethyl ether) project, which is considered capable of reducing dependence on LPG imports.
"Downstreaming is managed by the Downstreaming Task Force and the Minister of Investment and Downstreaming. So beyond that, you should just ask PTBA — they are not the regulator," he stressed.
Bahlil's firm stance indicates that the government seeks full commitment from state-owned mining enterprises in realising the national downstreaming programme, particularly the strategic DME (dimethyl ether) project, which is considered capable of reducing dependence on LPG imports.