President Prabowo Holds Meeting on Measures to Strengthen National Energy Security

President Prabowo Subianto, Tuesday (10/03), led a limited meeting with a number of ministers of the Red-and-White Cabinet, to discuss strategic measures to strengthen energy security amid global economic and geopolitical uncertainties.

In his statement following the meeting, Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition Bahlil Lahadalia said that the President gave special focus on the Government’s preparedness to implement E20 bioethanol program to support Indonesia’s energy security.

According to him, the Government has drawn up strategic measures for the development of E20 to E50 bioethanol-blend program. The program will be implemented through collaboration across ministries, including the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture.

“We have already prepared the strategic plan for the implementation of E20 to E50 program. I have discussed this with the Minister of Agriculture, as the upstream segment of this program requires collaboration between the Minister of Agriculture and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. We will also maintain the B50 program, as the geopolitical situation is unpredictable, and we never know where it will lead,” he said.

In addition to developing plant-based energy sources, the Government also plans to build oil storage facilities in several locations in Sumatra. According to Bahlil, the construction of these facilities aims to increase the country’s national oil reserve capacity.

“In addition, we will build several storage facilities in Sumatra so that when we import crude oil, we will have sufficient storage capacity to cover more than 20 days of supply. Our target is to extend this capacity to up to 60 days,” he said.

Furthermore, Bahlil explained that the feasibility study for the construction of these storage facilities had been completed. According to him, the Government will begin site inspections at the end of this year, including assessments of safety aspects.

“We are planning, among others, to ensure that the locations where we will build these storage facilities do not pose any significant risks or have potential for disasters. This is a matter of safety,” he emphasized.

Through the development of bioethanol, the continuation of the B50 biodiesel program, and the strengthening of strategic oil reserves, President Prabowo’s administration continues to lay a stronger foundation for national energy resilience. Indonesia must become more self-reliant in meeting its energy needs, more resilient in facing global turmoil, and better equipped to safeguard its national interests amid global uncertainty. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (RAS/TM)