"Let us manage them well so that we can enjoy much benefit from them."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called for good management of the energy sector for the maximum benefit of the people.

He said here on Tuesday many countries are eyeing Indonesia`s rich natural resources especially coal and minerals.

"Let us manage them well so that we can enjoy much benefit from them," he said at a limited cabinet meeting at state-owned oil/gas company Pertamina office.

President Yudhoyono said the energy sector is very important and therefore the government must have a right policy and program for its management.

"Especially now when the world population has increased to around seven billions to raise the need of energy significantly," he said.

Regarding energy supply he admitted that countries in the world could not always follow its movement. Even energy demand and supply has often become an economic, social, political and security issue.

"We are following the dynamic, geo-political development that is also affected by competition in resources including energy resources.

In our country we have relatively sufficient energy resources. So let us manage and use them well," he said.

Regarding fuel subsidy he reminded "the more subsidy for oil fuels and gas the less opportunity we have for developing other sectors such as infrastructure while less infrastructure will contribute to less investment."

President Yudhoyono however said Indonesia still has an opportunity to keep growing marked by a 6.4 percent growth in the second quarter.(T.KR-SSB/H-YH/F001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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