President Prabowo Prepares Strategy Towards Energy Self-Sufficiency

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the Government Communication Body (Bakom) Muhammad Qodari affirmed that President Prabowo Subianto is preparing various policies to reduce Indonesia’s dependence on energy supplies from abroad. According to him, President Prabowo has from the outset placed energy self-sufficiency as one of his administration’s main agendas. Therefore, various policies are being prepared to reduce Indonesia’s dependence on foreign energy supplies. “This nation must be self-sufficient. This nation must progress. Free from food dependence, free from energy dependence. That is all Mr Prabowo’s effort,” Qodari said in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday. Qodari stated that these efforts are part of the structural reforms currently being undertaken by the government, in line with the targets of achieving food security and energy security. He further cited the government’s success in strengthening the food sector through increased rice and fertiliser production. However, the challenges in the energy sector are far more complex due to the high dependence on oil imports. “The energy issue is certainly more difficult. Why? Because our imports are very large. Our daily requirement is 1.6 million litres, but we can only produce 600,000,” he said. The government is therefore promoting the use of energy based on domestic raw materials. One such initiative is through the B50 biodiesel programme for diesel and the development of an E20 ethanol blend for petrol. Meanwhile, he stated that the decision to raise the prices of non-subsidised fuels, namely Pertamax and Pertamax Green, is inseparable from global conditions. According to him, President Prabowo has prepared various strategies to reduce Indonesia’s dependence on energy imports. “Regarding fuel, external factors are very significant because de facto we as a nation are lagging behind,” Qodari remarked. He explained that the current price of non-subsidised fuel domestically is heavily influenced by global geopolitical developments. The conflict occurring in the Middle East, particularly involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, is affecting global oil prices. Iran’s strategic position controlling the Strait of Hormuz means any tension in the region directly impacts the world energy market. Nevertheless, Qodari stressed that the public need not worry about subsidised fuel. This is because the government continues to maintain the price of Pertalite fuel so that it is not affected by global oil price volatility. “Don’t forget that we have two types of fuel. There is subsidised fuel and market-priced fuel. The subsidised one hasn’t gone up, it remains the same,” he said.