Prabowo Subianto is now driving that effort forward. He wants downstream industrialization and resource management to accelerate. Not in small steps, but at scale. One key signal stands out. The government is preparing 13 new downstream projects, with a combined investment of around Rp239 trillion. These projects are already nearing finalization. They also sit outside the programs that have been running so far.
A major push is taking shape behind Indonesia’s natural resources strategy. The focus is clear. Move faster. Go deeper. And turn raw materials into higher-value output at home.
The direction became clearer after a closed-door meeting in Hambalang, Bogor, on March 25, 2026. Bahlil Lahadalia spoke to the press afterward. He said the President asked for a detailed update on how downstream programs are progressing.
From that meeting, one message stood out. The pipeline is growing.
Bahlil confirmed that the 13 new projects are being prepared as an additional layer to existing initiatives. The value is significant. Around Rp239 trillion in total. All now moving toward final approval.
“We are adding 13 downstream items with a total investment of approximately Rp239 trillion, and we will proceed with finalizing them,” he said after the meeting in Hambalang, as quoted on March 26, 2026.
This expansion comes on top of earlier efforts. In the first phase alone, there are already 20 downstream projects. Some have entered the groundbreaking stage. Others are not far behind. Construction for the remaining projects is expected to begin soon.
“For the first phase of 20 items, some have already broken ground, and the others will begin groundbreaking next month,” he added.
But the conversation in Hambalang did not stop at downstreaming. Energy became another key focus.
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The government is also looking at alternative energy development. The goal is long-term stability. Energy security. And eventually, self-sufficiency. These are not short-term targets. They require a broader shift.
Bahlil shared that the President wants all domestic energy potential to be fully utilized. Nothing should be left idle. This includes bioethanol and biodiesel, especially those derived from CPO. At the same time, the transition toward renewable energy is expected to move faster.
“The President has instructed us to optimize all available energy potentials, including ethanol, biodiesel derived from CPO, and how we can push forward the energy transition through renewable energy,” he said.
Taken together, the direction is becoming more defined. Expand downstream industries. Strengthen energy resilience. And make better use of what the country already has.
