President Prabowo Ensures Indonesia’s Preparedness for Energy Crises

President Prabowo holds a meeting with all Echelon I officials from ministries/institutions and president directors of SOEs at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Wednesday (04/08).

President Prabowo Subianto underscored the Government’s optimism in addressing the global energy crisis, ensuring the country remains capable of maintaining national stability amid uncertain global dynamics.

“We can control the course of development and the governance of our nation. We can navigate through dangerous situations, but thank God, over the past year and a half, our governance has remained effective, reliable, and has carried out our duties properly and effectively,” the President briefed members of the Red and White Cabinet, all Echelon I officials from ministries/institutions, and president directors of SOEs at the Government Working Meeting, at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Wednesday (04/08).

President Prabowo reiterated that the world has long faced a potential global crisis, covering three main sectors, namely food, energy, and water. This has also been projected by the United Nations (UN) through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda.

“Several years ago, the UN predicted that the global crises that would impact the entire world would be related to three things, namely food, energy, and water. These three had already been announced by the UN,” said the President.

In the current global situation, the President also addressed the conflict in the Middle East, which led to a rise in global energy prices. However, he assured that Indonesia remains relatively safe.

“I’ve studied the data and figures, and today, I’ve received reports from my ministers, and our situation is relatively safe. There are challenges and hurdles, but we’ll be able to face and tackle them,” he said.

The President also mentioned that in the short term, the Government will prepare strategic measures to maintain national energy stability, especially over the next 12 months of critical periods.

“One of the short-term measures we are implementing is controlling fuel consumption. I believe the critical short-term period will be the next 12 months. After that time, we will be highly resilient. In summary, we are ready and prepared to face the upcoming year,” he stated.

Furthermore, President Prabowo assured that the Government will continue to protect the grassroots through targeted energy subsidy policies. “We will maintain subsidized fuel for the grassroots and the underprivileged. We will maintain it for 80 percent of our population. But in time, the powerful and the wealthy who want to use premium gasoline must pay market prices,” the President said.

In addition, the President emphasized the importance of accelerated transformation toward national energy self-sufficiency based on domestic resources and renewable energy. He said that the global crisis is a driving force to speed up the reform.

“Crises, difficulties, challenges, obstacles, and hurdles are opportunities. They compel us to work smarter, more efficiently, and to eliminate inefficiency, misappropriation, and corruption,” the President said.

This statement reflects the Government’s commitment to strengthening national energy security and ensuring that all policies are implemented quickly, appropriately, and have direct impacts on the people. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (FI/AW)