President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called on Energy Minister Darwin Zahedy Saleh to prepare taking measures to save energy, including efficiency in the use of subsidized fuel oil.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said at Halim Perdanakusuma airport the president made the call for energy efficiency at a limited cabinet meeting on Monday morning.
“President Yudhoyono will soon issue a presidential decision on energy efficiency, and therefore we have to do the subsidized fuel savings movement by involving regional governments to maintain the quota,” Hatta said after the limited cabinet meeting, chaired by President Yudhoyono.
He said the energy saving mechanism and procedures were currently being devised by the Enegry and Mineral Resources Ministry and the results would soon be submitted to the head of state to be issued as a presidential decree.
“The technique will be explained by the energy and mineral resources minister. If in the past, we were able to achieve 7-10 percent energy efficiency, we can also do the same now,” Hatta said.
He said, the energy efficiency program would first be implemented by government institutions and later by the people.
“The energy and mineral resources minister will formulate the ways to save energy at government institutions. Soon after the ministry has formulated the presidential instruction, it will be signed by the president and take effect immediately” Hatta said.
Present at the limited meeting were among others Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa, Energy Minister Darwin Zahedy Saleh, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Agriculture Minister Suswono, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, and a number of other government officials.
Soon after the limited cabinet meeting, President Yudhoyono and his entourage left Halim Perdanakusuma airport for Ngurah Rai airport in Bali where he would open several ministerial-level ASEAN meetings.
