JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, invited all people to take steps to save money in the face of the fuel crisis following the US-Iran conflict. Bahlil exemplified the importance of people saving gas when cooking.
"I beg, suggest that let's, we have to use energy wisely. What is not necessary, I suggest not. For example, if you cook with LPG, if the food is cooked, don't waste the stove," said Bahlil in Colomadu in the YouTube broadcast of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, quoted Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Then, the statement of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources reaped pro and cons from various circles. What is the response of observers regarding Bahlil's statement?
The Executive Director of the Center of Economics and Law Studies (Celios), Bhima Yudhistira, spoke out about Bahlil's statement. According to him, the statement delivered by Bahlil to the public is not a solution.
"That is the most low-quality statement coming out of an Energy Minister (ESDM). It should be more empathetic and focus on the core of the problem," Bhima told VOI, Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Bhima assessed that Bahlil was too trivializing the threat of an energy crisis due to the war in the Middle East.
"It is too easy to take. In fact, the stock of fuel, the need for LPG imports, and the fiscal space are weaker than many countries that have prepared mitigation," he said.
In fact, said Bhima, Indonesia does not yet have the proper readiness as a neighboring country, such as Japan, to face the threat of an energy crisis.
"Japan has 254 days of fuel stocks, Indonesia 25 days, but the Japanese government already has urgent economic measures or emergency economic mitigation," he said.
For this reason, Bhima suggested that the Government focus on the core of the problems that Indonesia is currently facing, especially related to the capacity of the State Budget and the mitigation of gas supply risks.
"For example, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources has several mitigation steps through cooperation with the Regional Government (Pemda) and the Minister of Transportation (Menhub) to encourage public transportation without fuel, such as electric buses," said Bhima.
Then, he continued, the Government can ensure that the fuel supply contract from partner countries is guaranteed and invite the public to accelerate the conversion to electric motors.
"Or ensuring additional subsidies for households with electric stoves," he said.
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