Government Claims Create Hundreds Of Thousands Of New Job Opportunities Through Downstream Projects In The ESDM Sector

JAKARTA - The government created more than 276,000 new job opportunities from various downstream projects in the energy and mineral resources sector (ESDM) which are currently running.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, in his statement, quoted by Antara, Monday, October 27, said that in the past year, the prorakyat policy in the ESDM sector has shown tangible results.

"The government is not only focused on building physical infrastructure, but also paying attention to social and economic impacts through improving skills and absorption of local workers," he said.

This step is carried out in a measured manner, starting from training and labor certification, empowerment of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), cooperatives, and regional-owned enterprises (BUMD).

The government also places strategic projects outside the main industrial area so that development benefits can be felt evenly to small towns and villages.

Bahlil said the policy was part of the transformation of the national economy that places humans as the center of development.

"This transformation will not only have an impact on changes in economic structure, but also on improving human quality as a subject of development," said Bahlil.

He explained that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has provided training and certification to tens of thousands of workers in the energy and mining sector.

This effort is aimed at preparing the younger generation to face the needs of the future industry.

"As a result, more than 276,000 new job opportunities were created from the ongoing downstream projects," he said.

Over the past year, Bahlil has also directly reviewed field conditions in various regions.

"A variety of programs (ESDM) allow mothers to sew until the night, children learn with bright light, and fishermen have more durable catches," he said.

In addition to providing social impacts, development strategies in the ESDM sector also show positive fiscal results.

Based on data from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the realization of non-tax state revenues (PNBP) for the ESDM sector until the first semester of 2025 reached IDR 183.3 trillion or 71.99 percent of the annual target.

The largest contribution came from mineral and coal sub-sectors amounting to Rp100.2 trillion and oil and gas sub-sectors amounting to Rp73.3 trillion.

Positive performance can also be seen from the realization of investment in the ESDM sector, which until August 2025 had penetrated 17.20 billion US dollars, an increase of 8.5 percent compared to the same period the previous year of 15.85 billion US dollars.

The investment was dominated by oil and gas sub-sectors of US$10.22 billion and mineral and coal US$3.80 billion.

Bahlil also said that this achievement shows investor confidence in the direction of government policies in the energy sector and mineral resources.

"President Prabowo has guided suitably and firmly the new direction of the ESDM sector policy towards the constitutional mandate," he said.

Bahlill added that this achievement also marks two important things for the national economy, namely the continuation of downstream projects that encourage added value in the country, as well as increasing investor confidence in the stability and direction of government policies in this strategic sector.