Jakarta – The government continues to strengthen its efforts towards national energy independence by making Papua a key pillar for energy security development. President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that Papua possesses vast and strategic energy resource potential, both in renewable energy and the oil and gas sector, which must be managed for the greatest prosperity of the people.
“I believe Papua has excellent energy resources, and the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources has also planned that Papuan regions should benefit from the energy produced in Papua,” said President Prabowo.
The President emphasized that energy development in Papua is not solely focused on production but also on equitable distribution of benefits to the community. The government is encouraging the use of renewable energy sources such as solar and hydropower as sustainable solutions, particularly for remote areas that currently rely on expensive fuel distribution.
“If we have solar and hydropower, we won’t need to ship expensive fuel from other regions,” the President stressed.
Furthermore, the government is also directing the development of locally sourced biofuels as part of the national energy and food self-sufficiency strategy. President Prabowo stated that energy independence will strengthen the country’s fiscal resilience, given that fuel imports still reach hundreds of trillions of rupiah annually.
“Imagine if we could cut it in half, hundreds of trillions could be diverted to regional development, including in Papua,” he said.
This commitment has received strong support from the local government. The West Papua Provincial Government has welcomed the planned investment in the upstream oil and gas sector by RH Petrogas Companies in Indonesia, which is considered capable of strengthening energy security and driving regional economic growth.
“We hope Petrogas’ upstream oil and gas business activities can run smoothly. Optimal production will certainly impact state and regional revenues through the oil and gas profit-sharing scheme, as well as provide tangible benefits to the community,” said Suroso, Head of the Manpower, Transmigration, Energy, and Mineral Resources Agency of Southwest Papua.
Meanwhile, Alfian Telaumbanua, General Manager of Operations for RH Petrogas Companies in Indonesia, emphasized that coordination with local governments is crucial in supporting increased national energy production. “This is part of our ongoing collaboration to ensure smooth oil and gas operations and support energy security, particularly in Southwest Papua,” he said.
In the renewable energy sector, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is targeting the development of bioethanol from Papua as a future energy source. Eniya Listiani Dewi, Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE), stated that Papua is projected to become a significant contributor to national bioethanol production. “The target we’ve been given is for Papua to be able to produce up to 300,000 kiloliters per year,” she said.
With strong synergy between the central and regional governments, Papua is believed to emerge as a new driver of national energy security and a symbol of equitable and sustainable development in eastern Indonesia.