Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked the National Energy Council to develop policies that would strengthen the nation’s medium and long-term energy security so that the country can address its rising energy needs.
The council which is made up of government representatives and stakeholders in the energy sector should pay attention to not only short-term issues, but also think of how the country could develop medium and long-term energy security, the President said while opening the council’s first plenary session at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry building in Jakarta on Wednesday.
“I should like to inform you of the prospective energy issues we must manage and handle properly. As we all know, the short-term energy issue which has now become the center of public attention is the skyrocketing global crude oil prices. So we must arrive at a solution and follow a process to deal with it. The other current issue is related to fuel subsidy and price,” he said.
Under Law No. 30 of 2007 on Energy, the council was, among others, assigned to the drafting and formulating of national energy policies, deciding on a general plan of national energy, deciding steps to lessen the energy crisis, and supervising the cross-sectoral implementation of energy policies, Yudhoyono said.
The National Energy Council’s plenary meeting is expected to decide on a draft of national energy policies. Under the law, the government endorses the draft of the national energy policies with the approval of the House of Representatives (DPR).
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik, who is also the council’s executive chairman, said the aim of the meeting was to produce sustainable policies in the energy sector.
Also present at the meeting were Vice President Boediono and a number of former energy and mineral resources ministers, including Subroto, Ginanjar Kartasasmita, Purnomo Yusgiantoro and Kuntoro Mangkusubroto.
