Government Affirms Clean Energy and Natural Gas as Pillars of Energy Self-Sufficiency
Jakarta – The government has affirmed its commitment to making clean energy, particularly natural gas, the primary pillar towards national energy self-sufficiency. This step aligns with national priorities that emphasize national independence in the fields of energy, food, water, and the green economy.
The Head of the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas), Erika Retnowati, assessed that natural gas plays a strategic role in the energy transition and supports national economic growth.
“Natural gas not only serves as a cleaner transitional energy source, but is also a key pillar of the national economy, supporting the industrial, electricity, and household sectors,” said Erika.
Erika emphasized the importance of synergy between BPH Migas, PGN, and related business entities to accelerate the development of natural gas network infrastructure (jargas).
“Transparent and efficient downstream oil and gas governance will expand energy access for the public and support national economic growth,” she added.
Wahyudi Anas, a member of the BPH Migas Committee, also highlighted the importance of developing a gas network as part of the clean energy transition. He emphasized that gas networks not only support energy efficiency but also provide tangible benefits for households, small customers, and the industrial sector.
“We are encouraging the utilization of gas networks with a compressed natural gas (CNG) cluster system to be more effective and reach a wider community,” said Wahyudi.
Similarly, Hery Murahmanta, PGN’s Director of Infrastructure and Technology, stated that natural gas is the backbone of the national energy transition towards the 2060 Net Zero Emission (NZE) target. PGN, as Pertamina’s gas subholding, has operated integrated infrastructure encompassing more than 33,000 kilometers of pipelines, LNG regasification facilities, and gas filling stations.
“We hope natural gas can be an alternative to reduce LPG imports, in line with the President’s directive to achieve energy self-sufficiency,” said Hery.
Hery added that PGN continues to expand gas networks in various regions. In Banten Province, for example, PGN has built more than 15,000 gas networks using the state budget and 69,000 independent gas networks, which now serve residential, commercial, and industrial customers. He emphasized that government support through accelerated licensing and economic incentives is essential for optimal gas network expansion.
With the full support of the government, PGN, and stakeholders, natural gas utilization is expected to be key to achieving energy self-sufficiency while strengthening the competitiveness of the national industry amidst the transition to clean energy.
