Prabowo Instructs Bahlil to Optimise Alternative Energy, Here Are Examples
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia has revealed that President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto has instructed 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 the optimisation of all existing energy potentials we have, whether ethanol, biodiesel from CPO-CPO, including how we can push the energy transition through new renewable energy,” said Bahlil, after the meeting in Hambalang, quoted on Thursday (26/3/2026).
In addition, Bahlil stated that as the Minister of ESDM overseeing 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 are no policy changes from the Minister of ESDM; I have already reported this to the President, while we monitor developments,” he said.
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 supply-demand balance.
“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 relaxation—what is called measured relaxation, limited, and still maintaining supply and demand and prices,” he said.