Speaking during the launch of the Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP) project at Refinery Unit V in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, on Monday (January 12), Prabowo said that energy self-sufficiency would be pursued alongside food and water self-sufficiency during his tenure.
“We will optimize solar energy by using solar panels, boost electrification to create our own energy, and stop energy imports. We expect to achieve energy self-sufficiency within five years,” the president said.
Acknowledging the process may take years, Prabowo said he is satisfied as long as Indonesia moves in that direction. He added that hard work could accelerate progress, citing the achievement of rice self-sufficiency within his first year in office.
"We achieve it in one year, completely unexpected by anyone. This is the outcome of our hard work and the synergy of my cabinet, where ministries and agencies are working together. We are trimming unreasonable regulations," he stated.
Reflecting on the success of rice self-sufficiency, the president called on all parties to be confident that Indonesia will achieve energy self-sufficiency within the targeted timeframe.
Meanwhile, Prabowo described the RDMP project in Balikpapan as a new step toward achieving energy self-sufficiency and said it is expected to reduce gasoline imports by millions of kiloliters.
“I am glad that today we are taking another step in this sector to achieve energy self-sufficiency, to stand on our own feet. We must not depend on foreign sources,” he stressed.
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said the RDMP project could reduce national gasoline imports by up to 5.8 million kiloliters (kL) per year.
Through the optimization of the Balikpapan refinery under the RDMP, production of gasoline with an octane rating above RON 90 can be increased to 5.8 million kL per year.
With this additional production capacity, imports of RON 92, RON 95, and RON 98 gasoline can be reduced to around 3.6 million kL per year, he noted.
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Translator: Genta Tenri M, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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