The Fast-Tracked Oil and Gas Bill

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Halfway through a House of Representatives Commission XII hearing with a number of oil and gas officials on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, Commission Deputy Chair Sugeng Suparwoto abruptly halted the meeting. Three House deputy speakers—Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, Saan Mustopa, and Sari Yuliati—then entered the room and immediately took their seats at the leadership table.

Dasco then announced that Commission XII Chair Bambang Patijaya was being replaced by Melchias Markus Mekeng—both are Golkar Party politicians. Dasco said the change came after House leaders received a letter from the Golkar Faction on Tuesday, August 18. “We received a letter from the faction,” he said.

Mekeng is no newcomer to the House. Before joining Commission XII, which handles energy and mineral resources, the politician from the East Nusa Tenggara electoral district served on Commission XI, which focuses on finance and banking. Patijaya had led Commission XII since November 4, 2024.

Tempo learned from three officials who attended the hearing that the replacement of the Commission XII Chair was linked to the renewed deliberations on revisions to Law No. 22/2001 on Oil and Gas. According to them, the change was made at the “direction” of Golkar Party General Chair and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.