Jokowi Appointed As Temporary Minister Of Energy And Mineral Resources, Bahlil Immediately Holds Meeting

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ad Interim Bahlil Lahadalia. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Investment/BKPM)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has just appointed Bahlil Lahadalia as the ad interim Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), replacing Arifin Tasrif. Arifin is known to have been exposed to COVID-19.

Bahlil himself is known to be currently serving as the Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM).

Special Staff to the Minister of Investment Tina Talisa confirmed the news of the appointment. After being appointed, he said, Bahlil immediately held his first meeting as ad interim Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.

"This morning, an interim prime ministerial meeting of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources was held with all Echelon I within the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources," he said, to VOI, Friday, February 4.

Tina also explained that Bahlil was concurrently serving as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources only for a short period of time.

"Pak Bahlil holds concurrent positions as Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources ad interim or temporarily only for the next few days," he said.

On that occasion, Tina also explained the appointment of Bahlil Lahadalia based on a letter from the Minister of State Secretary dated February 3, 2022.

"President Joko Widodo appointed the Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM Mr. Bahlil Lahadalia as the ad interim Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources," he said.

For your information, before being appointed a member of the cabinet, Bahlil had a long professional record. In 2003, his name was recorded in the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) at the district, provincial and central levels.

After having various experiences in organizations and having a high-paying job, the man who was born in North Maluku decided to quit his job and set up his own company.

In 2015, his career as an entrepreneur was more complete when the National Conference of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI), participants chose Bahlil Lahadalia to be the Chair of HIPMI for the 2015-2019 period. Bahlil also led a trade delegation for young entrepreneurs to Japan in 2016 and to Europe in 2018 (HIPMI-Europe Trade Mission 2018).

Bahlil graduated from the College of Economics, Port Numbay Jayapura, Papua and the University of Cendrawasih in Jayapura for his master's degree. During college, he was known to be very active as an administrator of the student senate until he joined the Islamic Student Association (HMI) which brought him to the top position as General Treasurer of PB HMI.