Prabowo Holds Late-Night Meeting with Bahlil to Discuss CNG Conversion and PLN

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has revealed special directives from President Prabowo Subianto regarding downstream processing and the search for alternative energy sources to support Indonesia’s economy and public needs. This was the message conveyed by the president during a meeting held tonight, Thursday. The President’s directives are set against a backdrop of ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. Instability in the Middle East has been putting downward pressure on global energy and fertiliser prices. In light of this, Prabowo has ordered an acceleration of the conversion from LPG to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to reduce subsidies and cut imports. ‘Coincidentally, we see the unresolved geopolitical developments. The President has ordered us to immediately seek alternative energies, particularly focusing now on accelerating the transition from LPG to CNG,’ Bahlil stated at the Presidential Palace. Bahlil added that he and the President also discussed the reorganisation of mining operations, although he did not provide details on the matter. The meeting’s third point, according to the Golkar Party Chairman, concerned the readiness of PLN’s energy sector. ‘And the third point is the readiness of the PLN energy sector and the availability of our fuel. I think that is all,’ he concluded.