On Prabowo's Orders, Bahlil to Shut Down Fuel Oil Power Plants and Replace with Solar

Jakarta – Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has revealed President Prabowo Subianto’s directive concerning the transition to clean energy.

The government plans to replace Diesel Power Plants (PLTD) with Solar Power Plants (PLTS) and Geothermal Power Plants (PLTP).

According to Bahlil, this clean energy transition plan could be implemented shortly after Eid. The announcement came following a limited meeting with President Prabowo at the Presidential Palace on Thursday, 12 March 2026, regarding the Renewable Energy Task Force’s work.

“We have already held our first meeting attended by eight ministers from ESDM, including PLN. I have reported on the steps that must be taken. Perhaps by Eid we can start action. And first, we will complete all diesel plants powered by solar fuel—we will replace all of them with PLTS and also geothermal,” Bahlil said.

Bahlil explained that diesel plants will not be shut down immediately, but rather in parallel, pending completion of new PLTS construction.

“We’ll build first. If we stop without the replacement already built, there will be no alternative. So we’ll build in parallel, and once it reaches Commercial Operation Date (COD), we’ll switch off the diesel plants,” Bahlil stated.

In line with this, Bahlil will also revise PT PLN’s Electricity Supply Plan (RUPTL) for 2025–2034.

However, the Golkar Party Chairman declined to disclose which diesel plants would be shut down. He explained that this effort aims to ensure long-term electricity supply amid heightened geopolitical tensions.

“That is why we are optimising all our potential domestic resources and energy sources that we can convert from fossil fuels in this manner,” Bahlil said.