President Prabowo Subianto expressed his intention to promote oil palm cultivation in Papua during a briefing at a meeting on accelerating Papua’s development at the State Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday (December 16, 2025).

He stated that planting oil palm in Papua is expected to support domestic fuel production and contribute to national energy needs.

According to Prabowo, the initiative forms part of Indonesia’s broader strategy to achieve energy self-sufficiency within the next five years, alongside the goal of food independence.

He envisions every region in Indonesia eventually becoming energy self-reliant. Papua, in particular, is considered to have strong energy potential that should be utilized through careful and well-structured planning.

Prabowo emphasized that Papua should benefit directly from its abundant energy resources, in line with plans prepared by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Oil palm, however, is not the only focus. The President also encouraged the cultivation of various crops that can be processed into alternative energy sources.

He cited sugarcane and cassava as examples of crops that can be converted into ethanol. Through this approach, the government aims for all regions to achieve both food and energy independence within five years.

In addition to bioenergy, Prabowo highlighted the importance of shifting away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy sources such as solar and hydropower, which are available across different regions.

He noted that solar energy technology has become more affordable and can now reach remote areas. Likewise, small-scale hydropower plants are suitable for isolated regions and can support regional energy independence.

Prabowo believes this strategy could save the country hundreds of trillions of rupiah annually by reducing energy subsidies.

He pointed out that Indonesia currently spends a massive amount on fuel imports. If energy self-sufficiency is achieved through oil palm, cassava, and renewable energy sources, substantial savings could be realized.

Indonesia’s fuel imports currently amount to approximately Rp520 trillion per year. Prabowo estimated that cutting imports by half alone could save around Rp250 trillion.

If savings reach Rp500 trillion, he added, each regency could potentially receive up to Rp1 trillion in funding. This, he said, illustrates Indonesia’s vast potential as a resource-rich nation capable of building true energy independence.