Denying Subsidy Discussion, Purbaya Says Meeting with Bahlil Focused on Oil and Gas Non-Tax Revenue

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has emphasised that the discussions held in the meeting with Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia today focused solely on strengthening Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP) from the oil and gas sector. He denied that the meeting with Bahlil was to discuss subsidies as a result of the weakening rupiah exchange rate. “No, we did not discuss subsidies. But we discussed his plans to strengthen PNBP from the oil and gas sector. I think the plans are quite good,” said Purbaya at the Attorney General’s Office in Jakarta on Wednesday, 13 May 2026. Nevertheless, Purbaya admitted he could not yet reveal the details of the discussion, as it would be officially announced by Bahlil as the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister. “Later, Mr Bahlil will announce it. But what’s interesting is that there is a gas pipelining project from central Sumatra that hasn’t been completed yet. Later, it might connect from Sumatra to Java,” he stated. Purbaya assessed that the project is highly strategic for supporting national energy distribution, especially if the development of the Andaman oil and gas field is completed. “If it’s done, once the Andaman field is finished, it can be transferred directly to Sumatra and Java. That’s a good project,” he said. It is known that previously Bahlil had explained that the meeting with Purbaya was to discuss strengthening policy synergy between the two ministries, particularly in efforts to increase Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP), accelerate the electricity energy self-sufficiency programme, and develop village electricity. He also conveyed optimism about the ongoing collaboration between the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Finance. “The title is PNBP up, the nation advances,” said Bahlil at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Office in Jakarta on Wednesday, 13 May 2026. Bahlil emphasised that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Finance are a solid team in driving policy synchronisation to optimise state revenue potential while ensuring the sustainability of national strategic programmes in the energy sector. “We discussed the synchronisation programme with the Finance Minister, including how to increase PNBP, but also how to realise the energy self-sufficiency programme and village electricity,” he said.