Practitioner: Upstream Oil And Gas Sector Is The Key To The Success Of President Prabowo's Energy Self-Sufficiency Program

JAKARTA - Energy Practitioner and Observer Tumbur Parlindungan assessed that the upstream oil and gas sector was the key in the success of the energy self-sufficiency program during the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

"The upstream oil and gas sector plays an important role in achieving self-sufficiency in energy by encouraging oil and gas exploration as new reserves," said Tumbur in his statement in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Friday, November 15.

He assessed that self-sufficiency in energy must be in line with the increase in investment in the upstream oil and gas sector.

Therefore, it is important for the government to open attractive investment access for investors to enter the upstream oil and gas sector in the country.

"The need for our 'fuel fossil' is still above 85 percent. Therefore, upstream oil and gas investment is still very much needed to increase 'lifting', there is no other way. We have very interesting'resources'. Non-'resources' factors such as bureaucracy and so on must also support," said Tumbur.

To create an investment climate that attracts investors, he continued, between ministries and institutions also needs to collaborate and make pro-industrial policies.

He hopes that there will be no more overlapping rules in the future.

"Now with this new government being seen and calculated again how interesting upstream oil and gas investment is in Indonesia. We can wait for the next six months for the government's gesture," he said.

Furthermore, he also highlighted the discourse on energy transition because it turns out that the empowerment of new and renewable energy (EBT) is still very difficult to implement, while the need for energy must still be met.

Therefore, fossil energy such as oil and gas is still very relevant to meet the current energy needs.

"'Renewable energy' (EBT) is actually not that sweet. Many countries want to implement it, but eventually return to using fossil energy. So, this is our opportunity to maximize the potential of oil and gas in the country. There is no other option other than attracting investors," said Tumbur.

Previously, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia was committed to realizing the president's vision and mission regarding energy self-sufficiency, one of which was by strengthening the upstream oil and gas industry.

Indonesia's own energy resources are considered to be still large that has not been optimized.

Bahlil emphasized the importance of breakthrough efforts and hard work in realizing self-sufficiency in energy through the upstream oil and gas sector by increasing 'lifting'.

The Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas) as an extension of the government's business to business (B2B) with a cooperation contract contractor (KKKS) is expected to be accommodative, responsive, as well as make adjustments to today's challenges and in the future.

"My hope is that the upstream oil and gas industry is clear as one of the sectors in supporting energy security efforts," he said.

Therefore, his party asked SKK Migas to organize a system that hinders it so that it can realize the current government's energy self-sufficiency.

He also highlighted the importance of optimizing the performance of exploration wells through technological interventions and increasing investment.

Bahlil even plans to reuse old wells (idle) in order to return to producing oil and gas for domestic needs.

"To achieve self-sufficiency in energy, there is no other way, we must optimize our wells, whether they want to be explored or those that have been explored," said Bahlil.