January 13, 2026 | 07:40 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto revealed his intention to maximize the utilization of solar energy and solar power plants (PLTS) in various regions. He hopes that Indonesia can achieve energy independence within 5 years.
"In the future, we will also develop solar energy with our solar panels, which will electrify our energy so that we can truly generate our own energy. We don't need to import energy from outside. This is our target. We hope that within 5 years we can achieve this," Prabowo said during a speech at the inauguration of Pertamina's Integrated Energy Infrastructure RDMP in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, on Monday, January 12, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
The Integrated Energy Infrastructure RDMP of Pertamina in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, is one of the President's priorities, in addition to food and water independence.
Prabowo stated that if the 5-year target is not achieved, it's okay to postpone it to 6-7 years. The important thing is for Indonesia to move towards energy independence.
The President then gave an example of his government's success in achieving rice self-sufficiency in approximately one year. At that time, the target for self-sufficiency was expected to be reached in the 4th year.
"It turns out that we succeeded in 1 year. This is something that no one expected. This is the result of the hard work of our team, the synergy of the Cabinet that I lead, the cooperation of ministries, everything. We cut regulations that were unreasonable," said the President.
Prabowo urged all parties to have confidence and believe that Indonesia is capable of realizing the vision of energy independence.
"Therefore, I am happy. Proud. Today, one more step in the field of energy, we are moving towards our ability to be independent. Our ability to stand on our own feet. We must not depend on energy from abroad. We must not! We want to be independent, and we are capable. We have everything, given by the Almighty, it's just a matter of whether we as a nation are capable or not," said the President.
At the RDMP Pertamina facility in Balikpapan, after the inauguration, the President also visited the largest oil refinery in Indonesia. During his visit to Balikpapan, Prabowo was accompanied by several state officials, including Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Foreign Minister Sugiono, Head of the Government Communication Bureau Angga Raka Prabowo, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, senior officials of Pertamina and its subsidiaries, and local government officials.
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