JAKARTA – Indonesia could stop exporting energy to countries that “disrespect” it, a senior minister warned on Oct 22, a day after suggesting that Jakarta might not renew gas export contracts with neighbouring countries.
The comments came after President Prabowo Subianto called on Indonesia to safeguard its natural resources and prioritise national interests, saying the country was facing challenging circumstances that required it to focus on its survival.
Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition, Bahlil Lahadalia, said Jakarta would review its energy export agreements with countries that failed to show mutual respect, although he did not name any specific country.
“I will conduct an evaluation. I will not hesitate to consider stopping exports to countries that do not respect Indonesia,” Bahlil, who is also Minister of Energy and Mineral Resource, said at an event marking the commissioning of gas production facilities on Oct 22 in Jakarta.
Bahlil, who is chairman of the Golkar Party, said disagreements between countries should be resolved through dialogue and mutual respect, although he did not specify which countries or disputes he was referring to.
“Don’t come begging when you need something, but when there is another issue that can actually be discussed, behave like a relative who has no manners. This is what we do not want,” he said.
He added that Indonesia remained open to concluding energy export agreements with countries that treated it as an equal, even if they did not currently have contracts with Jakarta.
Read Full Article At Source
