Prabowo Government Is Considered No Longer Depending On Energy Imports If The Trend Of Increase In Oil And Gas Lifting Continues

Archives. Oil and Gas industry workers. (ANTARA PHOTO-Hafidz Mubarak A)

JAKARTA - A number of academics in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) consider the increase in national oil lifting to be the initial signal of the success of the Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka Government in strengthening national energy security. The lifting has now reached 608 thousand barrels per day, exceeding the 2025 State Budget target of 605 barrels per day.

Energy expert from Nusa Cendana University, Prof. Fredrik L. Benu said the trend of increasing lifting is important in an effort to reduce dependence on Indonesia's oil imports, which are currently quite high.

"We have increased from around 600 thousand to almost 700 thousand barrels. That includes maximizing existing wells and also new wells," said Fredrik in a discussion on Energy Public Policy with the theme "One Year Prabowo-Gibran Government from Angle of Energy View" in Kupang, NTT, in a statement Wednesday, November 5th.

According to him, this lifting increase shows the government's initial commitment to strengthening domestic production. The increase, said Fredrik, was triggered by efforts to optimize oil wells and organize people's wells which are being carried out by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia.

He is also optimistic that oil lifting will increase to reach 1 million barrels per day, if the government consistently records people's wells and explores new wells.

He believes that the potential for new oil fields in Indonesia is still very broad and can be explored further. "So we'll see the government in the future. In addition to the energy mix policy, we ask for additional exploration because the potential is still large," he said.

For three money, the economic expert at the Artha Wacana Christian University (UKAW) Kupang, Dr. Frits Fanggidae, who was also present at the discussion, said that the current lifting achievement gave a positive signal for the prospect of future economic growth. However, the increase in production must be accompanied by strengthening the capacity of the national energy industry so that domestic reserves can be utilized optimally.

"Lifting reflects the strength of demand and supply in the economy. So there must be an increase in production capacity so that the high lifting benefits can be felt," said Frits.

He added that the increase in lifting must be carried out in parallel with the development of new and renewable energy (EBT) so that Indonesia achieves overall energy independence. If lifting increases but national production does not increase, imports remain large. So lifting increases must be accompanied by an increase in production capacity," he said.

Meanwhile, public policy expert Prof. Dr. David BW Pandie assessed that the Prabowo 'Gibran's government's energy strategy was in the right direction. He said the energy self-sufficiency agenda was a strategic need to maintain national economic and political stability in the long term.

Energy is the foundation of life. When there is a shortage of energy, the impact is not only economic, but can also shake the stability of the government," said David.

According to him, the increase in lifting accompanied by the energy transition program shows a balanced approach by the government in maintaining energy supply while moving towards a low emission target. Both must go hand in hand. If you only rely on fossil energy, it's not good. But the energy transition also takes time and technology," he said.

The academics agreed that the first year the Prabowo 'Gibran government became an important phase in laying the groundwork for Indonesia's energy independence. By optimizing the old wells, structuring people's wells, and programs to accelerate renewable energy, the policy direction is considered to be concrete.

Fredrik is also optimistic that Minister Bahlil will be able to accelerate the implementation of policy breakthroughs in the near future. Roadmap is good. We'll see the following year, it's only the first year and it's very good," he said.

With these various steps, the government is considered to be on a positive path to reduce the energy deficit and realize national energy independence. The realization of the lifting increase is said to be an initial indicator that the commitment is starting to bear fruit.