Minister Bahlil Reveals Contents of 2.5-Hour Meeting with President Prabowo

Jakarta – Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia disclosed the contents of a limited meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the State Palace on Thursday, 12 March 2026. The 2.5-hour meeting discussed the work plan of the Energy Task Force for New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE), as well as the implementation of vehicle engine conversion to electric power.

“I just had an audience with the President, who called me to report on the progress of the EBTKE Task Force discussions, new and renewable energy, and the conversion of vehicles from petrol to electric. Following our inaugural meeting yesterday attended by eight ministers at ESDM, including PLN, I reported the steps that need to be taken,” said Bahlil when met after the meeting at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Thursday, 12 March 2026.

According to Bahlil, one plan that could be implemented in the near future is transitioning fossil fuel-based power generation to renewable energy, such as the construction of Solar Power Plants (PLTS), which will replace Diesel Power Plants (PLTD) based on crude oil fuel.

“Perhaps by the holiday season, this action could already be underway. The first thing we will complete is the diesel units – PLTD running on diesel – we will replace all of them with PLTS and also geothermal. That is perhaps what I needed to convey,” said Bahlil.

The General Chair of Golkar Party did not specify the locations of PLTD units that would be shut down and replaced with renewable energy. However, he stressed that this measure is necessary given global geopolitical uncertainty affecting energy prices and supplies in the long term.

Additionally, he assured that the PLTD units would not be immediately discontinued. Rather, they would be operated in parallel whilst awaiting the completion of PLTS construction.

“We need to build first; if we stop operations before the replacement is built, there won’t be an alternative. So we run them in parallel, and once construction is completed and the new facility reaches commercial operation date, the PLTD will be shut down. I also plan to revise the RUPTL,” he said.