Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government will consult with the Commission VII of the House of Representatives (DPR) on a planned energy resilience fund (DKE) in January 2016.
The government would manage the fund professionally, transparently, and accountably, Sudirman Said, energy and mineral resources minister, said in a press statement, here Friday.
He would propose to the Parliament that the fund be allocated in the amended State Budget 2016.
Internally, the DKE will be audited by the inspector general of the energy and mineral resources ministry or the Finance and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP), and then the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).
As the state money, the fund will be kept in the finance ministry but the energy and mineral resources ministry has the authority to use it.
The fund would be spent for exploration activities to increase reserves, for the development of infrastructure to build strategic reserves, and for new and renewable energy development, Minister Said explained.
The state financial expenditure should be prioritized for productive spending such as infrastructure, health, and education, according to him.
"At present, we are facing a problem that our oil refineries are already old and can only produce half of our needs, so we have to rely on fuel imports," he stated.
Indonesia has huge potential of renewable energy, but it has not been managed optimally, he said.
For the Energy Resilience Fund, the government will impose a levy against sale of gasoline and diesel fuel. The premium levy will be Rp200 per liter and diesel Rp300 per liter.
The policy will be effective beginning January 5, 2016, coinciding with the announcement of the fuel price decrease.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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