Safeguarding Contributions to Energy Sovereignty
Indonesia needs to learn from history that energy independence gives a nation room to take strategic decisions freely.
Jakarta (ANTARA) — When launching the 50 per cent biodiesel mandate (B50) recently, President Prabowo emphasised that the programme’s implementation is not merely a technological achievement, but tangible proof of the nation’s sovereignty in the energy sector.
According to Prabowo, the B50 programme demonstrates that Indonesia is capable of harnessing its own natural resources for the greatest benefit of the people.
This principle is in line with Article 33 paragraph (3) of the 1945 Constitution, which mandates that the earth, water, and the natural riches contained therein shall be controlled by the state and used for the greatest prosperity of the people. Such natural wealth certainly includes energy resources, including oil and gas.
The Constitution clearly grants the state the authority to regulate and utilise its natural resources for the national interest, without interference from other countries or international organisations.
Previously, Prabowo also stated that Indonesia could achieve energy independence within the next five years. In his view, energy plays an important role in eradicating poverty from Indonesian soil while transforming the nation into a modern and advanced country.
For this reason, Prabowo has set an ambitious target to realise energy independence through a measurable roadmap.
Contribution of the upstream oil and gas sector
Efforts to achieve energy sovereignty require the contribution of all stakeholders, from the government, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and businesses, to universities and the wider community.
As the national energy SOE, PT Pertamina (Persero), together with its business entities, including PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE), plays a key role in maintaining the sustainability of national oil and gas production while strengthening energy resilience.
Amid the challenge of natural decline in oil and gas fields, the upstream sector is required to continuously boost productivity through exploration, development of new fields, optimisation of existing fields, and the application of increasingly efficient technology.
In this context, PHE, as Pertamina’s upstream subholding, is one of the companies contributing to safeguarding the national energy supply.
According to PHE Corporate Secretary Hermansyah Y. Nasroen, throughout its 19 years of operation, the company has remained committed to being an upstream oil and gas company at the forefront of realising national energy sovereignty.
Currently, PHE contributes around 65 per cent of national oil production and 37 per cent of national gas production. The company also operates approximately 27 per cent of the oil and gas blocks in Indonesia.