Global Energy Crisis: Prabowo Urges Bahlil to Accelerate Alternative Energy Development
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia stated that the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, has called for the acceleration of alternative energy development to strengthen national energy resilience and self-sufficiency.
The directive was conveyed during a limited meeting discussing energy sector strategies in Hambalang, Bogor, on Wednesday (25/3/2026).
According to Bahlil, Prabowo emphasised the importance of maximising all domestic energy potentials, from the development of bioethanol and biodiesel to accelerating the transition to New Renewable Energy (EBT).
“The President has ordered us to optimise all the energy potentials we have, whether ethanol, biodiesel from CPO, including how we can push the energy transition through new renewable energy,” said Bahlil after the meeting in Hambalang.
In addition, Bahlil conveyed that as the Minister of ESDM responsible for determining policies in the energy and natural resources sector, he had also reported to the President on commodity price developments and the strategies being prepared.
He affirmed that to date, there have been no policy changes in controlling the supply and demand of coal or nickel.
“Clearly, in terms of controlling supply and demand for coal and nickel, up to today there have been no policy changes from the Minister of ESDM; I reported this to the President earlier, while we monitor developments,” he stated.
Bahlil added that if commodity prices remain stable, the government will consider measured relaxations in production planning. However, such steps will still be within the framework of coordination with the market and considering the balance of supply and demand.
“The important thing is that we want the prices to stay good; we pray for good coal prices, good nickel prices, and then we will see how to implement measured relaxations—measured meaning limited and still safeguarding supply and demand as well as prices,” he said.