LEBAK PORTAL – President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto emphasized the importance of energy security as a big challenge that must be faced together.
He said that with increasing global pressure and political instability in the Middle East, energy issues have moved from being a long-term challenge to an urgency that requires an immediate response.
“Energy security is one of the crucial things we are currently facing. With increasing global pressure and the unstable situation in the Middle East, this issue is no longer long-term, but is something that needs to be addressed immediately,” said the President in his speech while attending the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Special Summit (BIMP-EAGA) in Cebu, Philippines, Thursday, 7 May 2026.
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The President also said that the BIMP-EAGA area has great potential to develop renewable energy, including hydropower, solar power and wind power, as well as fertile land that has not been utilized optimally.
He also questioned how ready member countries were to exploit this potential to meet regional needs and support the energy transition in ASEAN.
“The question is whether we are ready to implement a plan based on this potential. Not only to meet our subregional needs, but also to contribute to the energy transition in ASEAN,” said the President.
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Furthermore, President Prabowo encouraged concrete steps to accelerate the development of clean energy in the Southeast Asia region.
Some of the initiatives mentioned include the development of hydro energy in Borneo, the expansion of solar power projects in Palawan, and the use of wind energy in coastal areas.
President Prabowo Subianto gave examples of several steps taken by Indonesia to accelerate the development of solar energy.
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“We are moving quickly in the energy transition. We are building a solar power capacity of 100 GW. Together we will improve our energy infrastructure. BIMP-EAGA has great potential,” explained the President.
Apart from focusing on energy development, President Prabowo also emphasized the importance of strengthening connectivity in the sub-region, including increasing the capacity of the Trans Borneo Power Grid electricity network so that energy distribution is more efficient in the region. He believes that all of these agendas require funding support, technical skills and closer partnerships with regional development partners.
“None of this can be achieved without adequate support. We must ensure funds are available, mobilize technical skills, and deepen cooperation with regional advisors and our Development Partners,” said the President.
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At the end of his speech, President Prabowo emphasized that apart from the issue of energy security, food security is also a fundamental issue that needs attention from all BIMP-EAGA countries to maintain the welfare of people in the region.
“However, our efforts should not stop at energy security. Food security is also fundamental,” stressed the President.
From Cebu, President Prabowo also sent a clear signal that ASEAN’s future does not only depend on economic development, but also on the region’s strength in maintaining energy security, food and social stability amidst ongoing global changes.***
