President Prabowo Aims to Stop Diesel Import by 2026, Push Papua for Energy Self-Sufficiency

President Prabowo Subianto gives directives to all regional leaders across Papua island and the Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Special Autonomy Development in Papua at the State Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (12/16). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/Muchlis Jr)

The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to realizing national energy independence by preparing Papua as a strategic region for energy self-sufficiency development.

According to President Prabowo, Papua has an extraordinary energy source potential that must be leveraged for regional and national interests.

“I suppose Papua has a very good energy source, and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources has designed that the regions of Papua must benefit from the energy produced there,” he said while delivering directives to regional leaders across Papua island and the Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Special Autonomy Development in Papua at the State Palace in Jakarta, Tuesday (12/16).

The President pointed out that the Government is currently promoting the utilization of renewable energy, particularly solar and hydropower, as a solution for remote areas, underscoring that technological advances have made solar power more affordable and that small-scale hydropower generators can be used in areas that are hard to access.

“If solar power and hydropower are available, there is no need to send expensive fuel from other regions,” he said.

President Prabowo also pushed for the development of local-based energy sources through biofuel, which is part of the Government’s medium-term targets to realize energy and food self-sufficiency across all regions within the next five years.

The President underscored that energy independence significantly strengthens the state’s finances, adding that reducing fuel imports, which reach Rp520 trillion per year, can save hundreds of trillion rupiahs annually, which can be reallocated for regional development.

“If we can cut it by half, we will have Rp250 trillion. Imagine what we can do by cutting Rp500 trillion. For Rp500 trillion, every regency can have probably one trillion,” he said.

Furthermore, the President stated that the Government has set a concrete target to terminate diesel imports by next year and gradually end fuel imports by 2029.

To ensure that the policy is implemented effectively, the President ordered governors and regents, especially in Papua island, to coordinate with the Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Special Autonomy Development in Papua, the Central Government, the National Development Planning Agency, and relevant ministries.

The President also instructed regional leaders to set their top priorities while taking into account the demands and challenges in their respective areas.

“We cannot finish everything all at once, but if we set the priorities, we will be able to match them with what we can do now,” he remarked. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (DH/MMB)