The government is targeting to bring electricity to 5,700 villages and 4,400 sub-districts across Indonesia by 2029–2030.
Bahlil, along with several ministers from the Red and White Cabinet, attended the closed meeting led by President Prabowo on Monday (August 25).
The agenda focused on government programs postponed until 2025, as well as those that must be implemented in the following years.
“We discussed the economy and pending programs for 2025 that need to be completed. Then we talked about economic prospects for 2026. From the energy side, we will try to electrify 5,700 villages and 4,400 sub-districts that remain without access to electricity. This must be completed by 2029–2030,” Bahlil told reporters after the meeting.
On the budget, Bahlil said the figures are still being calculated, but allocations for the village and sub-district electrification program have already been included in the 2026 draft state budget.
“The budget has been included in the state budget because this is a public service. Why? We reported to the President that this concerns low-income communities. It cannot be calculated solely in economic terms because it requires the presence of the state. The President instructed it, and it has been directly budgeted,” Bahlil explained.
During the same occasion, Bahlil also confirmed that starting next year, the distribution of 3-kilogram LPG cylinders will be based on the national identification number (NIK).
“Yes, next year it will use NIK. So, you should not use the 3-kilogram LPG. For the upper-income groups, I believe they will have the awareness not to purchase subsidized gas cylinders,” he said.
Earlier in the day, President Prabowo held several closed meetings with his ministers after inaugurating new ambassadors and heads of state agencies, as well as presenting honorary awards to more than 100 public figures, retired military officers, Red and White Cabinet members, legislative leaders, judicial and police officials, musicians, writers, and cultural figures.
In one of those meetings, President Prabowo summoned Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan, and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia to report on their progress and discuss programs aimed at boosting economic growth.
Related news: Govt to electrify over 780,000 households across nation
Translator: Genta Tenri Mawangi/Fathur Rochman, Primayanti
Editor: M Razi Rahman
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
