Green Energy is the Focus of the Meeting of President Prabowo and Jusuf Kalla

President Prabowo Subianto receives former Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia Jusuf Kalla, at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday (06/11)

President Prabowo Subianto receives an audience with the 10th and 12th Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia Jusuf Kalla accompanied by Solihin Jusuf Kalla, at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday (06/11). The meeting discussed efforts to strengthen national energy security by accelerating the development of clean energy-based power plants to support Indonesia’s economic growth targets.

In his statement after the meeting, Jusuf Kalla said that the discussion with President Prabowo focused on increasing national energy capacity as one of the main prerequisites for achieving energy self-sufficiency and maintaining the pace of economic development.

“Solihin and I just had a long conversation with the President, accompanied by the Minister of State Secretary and the Cabinet Secretary, about improving Indonesia’s energy capacity, which we know as energy self-sufficiency. We are ready to do so. We have already built a 1,500-megawatt hydroelectric power plant (PLTA), and we are ready to build another 2,000 megawatts, including a gas-fired power plant (PLTG),” Jusuf Kalla said.

According to Jusuf Kalla, Indonesia’s energy needs will continue to increase in line with the government’s economic growth targets. Therefore, developing energy infrastructure, particularly green energy, is a strategic step to ensure an adequate electricity supply for both the industrial sector and the public.

“Because we see that achieving growth of 5-6 percent, or even 8 percent, requires an extraordinary amount of energy. Without that energy, it will be difficult to achieve this growth. Therefore, the President agreed to immediately develop a national energy system, particularly green energy, as part of national development, to support the economic growth the President has stated, reaching 8 percent, now at 5-6 percent. Therefore, such a powerful energy source is needed,” Jusuf Kalla added.

Furthermore, Jusuf Kalla stated that the development plan is estimated to require an investment of around Rp60 trillion to Rp70 trillion. According to Jusuf Kalla, the project design and construction site are already available, so the next step will focus on technical discussions to expedite investment realization.

“The design is already done, the location is already set up, and we just need to discuss the technical aspects, and he, the President, has agreed to implement it immediately, because the business is about investment,” said Jusuf Kalla.

In addition to discussing the energy sector, President Prabowo and Jusuf Kalla also exchanged views on a number of international issues, including developments in the peace situation in Southern Thailand and the dynamics occurring in Pakistan and Afghanistan. (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat) (AW/LW)