Government examines work-from-home option to conserve fuel
Jakarta — Indonesia’s Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia announced that the government is studying several measures to curb fuel consumption, including the potential implementation of work-from-home (WFH) arrangements.
According to Bahlil, the proposal remains under review, though implementation is not ruled out. “There are certainly several steps that will be taken, but we are studying and continuing to study whether we need WFH. However, in my view, all possibilities could happen. What matters is that fuel conservation is also important,” he said at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources office in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Bahlil assured that national energy availability, including fuel, liquefied petroleum gas and coal for power generation, remains secure through the Eid 2026 holiday period, despite potential energy crises arising from Middle Eastern conflicts.
The minister stressed that national energy stocks remain in line with minimum standards. “Fuel, liquefied petroleum gas and electricity availability for Indonesia are all under control. Additional liquefied petroleum gas supplies will arrive at the end of this month, so there will be no issues meeting community needs ahead of Eid. Coal for the state electricity company averages 14–15 days, in line with the national minimum standard,” he said.
Bahlil also confirmed that fuel subsidies will be maintained by the government, at least until after the Eid 2026 holiday. Regarding energy availability after Eid, he said the government will continue evaluating after March, adding that strategic planning for that period has already been prepared.
The minister noted Indonesia gained some positive momentum from the opening and closing policy at the Strait of Hormuz, allowing ships from countries other than Israel and the United States to resume operations—viewed as a positive development for energy supply stability.
This follows President Prabowo Subianto’s directive during a cabinet meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta on Friday (13 March), urging fuel consumption conservation measures and consideration of work-from-home policies as a precaution against global crisis impacts. “I’d like this discussed by the coordinating ministers to see how many days this might entail. Let’s think about it. We handled COVID successfully before, and we were able to work from home extensively, which was efficient and meant we saved very significant quantities of fuel,” Prabowo said.
Several other countries have announced energy conservation policies in response to global uncertainty. Thailand, for instance, has asked civil servants to work from home to reduce electricity and fuel consumption, limited lift and escalator use, and set air conditioning to 26–27 degrees Celsius. The Philippines has implemented a four-day working week in the public sector, whilst Pakistan is preparing energy conservation plans through distance learning and work-from-home arrangements.