Dave Laksono Hails Prabowo-Bahlil Energy Diplomacy in US as a Bold Move
Jakarta, VIVA – Member of Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Dave Laksono, has assessed President Prabowo Subianto’s state visit to Washington D.C., United States, in February 2026 as far more than a ceremonial handshake, describing it instead as the embodiment of a grand vision for Energy Self-Sufficiency and relentless downstream industrialisation.
Accompanied by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia, Indonesia’s agenda at the White House and the US Department of Energy carried a strategic mission: ensuring that Indonesia’s natural wealth is managed with the most advanced technology and strongest capital to drive domestic industry.
“The core of the meeting was about breaking the import chain and strengthening resilience. The primary focus that Minister Bahlil brought was the stability of national energy supply,” said Dave Laksono in a statement on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
During various meetings with the United States, Indonesia successfully secured investment commitments worth US$3.5 billion specifically for the revitalisation of ageing oil wells through Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) technology.
As conveyed by ESDM Minister Bahlil Lahadalia in his statement in Washington, this initiative is projected to add production of up to 80,000 barrels per day — a significant figure for saving the nation’s foreign exchange reserves.
“One of the most crucial achievements of this visit is the US recognition of Indonesia’s strategic position in the critical minerals supply chain. Minister Bahlil lobbied hard to ensure that Indonesian nickel and copper downstream products gain fair market access under US green policies,” said Dave.
With new investment commitments of US$4 billion for the construction of refining plants (smelters) using High-Pressure Acid Leaching (HPAL) technology, Indonesia is poised to supply raw materials for electric vehicle (EV) batteries meeting international environmental standards.
“This is a resounding victory for the downstream industrialisation policy that the government has long championed, proving that downstream processing is no longer merely rhetoric but a national industrial standard recognised by the world,” said Dave.
He noted that Indonesia also presented a pragmatic energy transition roadmap, positioning natural gas as the primary bridge towards Net Zero Emission targets.
“With funding support from US financial institutions totalling US$2.8 billion, trans-national gas pipeline projects and LNG terminals will be accelerated to ensure industrial zones in Java and Sumatra receive clean energy at competitive prices — with the target set below US$6 per million British thermal units (MMBTU),” he explained.