Gov’t Prioritizes National Interests in Coal and Energy Policy

President Prabowo delivers his directives at the State Palace on Friday (03/13).

During a Cabinet Meeting at State Palace on Friday (03/13), President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that national interests must remain the top priority in managing the country’s natural resources.

“Coal mining production should primarily serve national interests, just like the palm oil sector,” he said.

The President emphasized that Indonesia’s natural resources must be harnessed to their fullest potential for the benefit of the people.

Therefore, the Government has made national interests the top priority in its human resources management policy, he said.

“All natural resources belong to the people. I am firm on that,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Bahlil Lahadalia explained that the Government has secured sufficient coal supply for domestic needs through export controls and the Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) policy.

“Coal industries that submitted their annual work plan plans and budget must comply with the DMO policy. We will not issue export permits if they fail to meet their DMO requirements or if domestic demand remains unmet. Our priority is fulfilling domestic needs,” he said.

The Government is also preparing a policy to govern coal production to be allocated for domestic demand.

“We are preparing a regulation the form of a ministerial decision under which coal production will be primarily allocated for domestic demand, with only the surplus allowed to be exported,” Bahlil said.

The policy is one of the measures to safeguard national energy security and to ensure that the management of Indonesia’s natural resources is directed as much as possible toward the people’s welfare and national development.  (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (RD/EP)