Irman Gusman: Energy Resilience Must Become the Foundation of Regional Economic Sovereignty

17 July 2026 oleh admin

Jakarta, dpd.go.id – Indonesian Senator from West Sumatra, Irman Gusman, emphasized that energy resilience must be positioned as the foundation of regional economic sovereignty, rather than merely ensuring the adequacy of the national energy supply. He delivered the statement when asked for his response after attending the Garuda TV Leaders' Briefing 2026, themed “Building National Energy Resilience and Mobility,” held at the PT PLN (Persero) Auditorium in Jakarta on Thursday, July 16, 2026.

According to the former two-term Speaker of the DPD RI, amid global geopolitical dynamics, the acceleration of the energy transition, and technological transformation, Indonesia must be able to turn the energy sector into a driver of inclusive economic growth while simultaneously boosting regional competitiveness.

"Indonesia possesses abundant energy resources. Our challenge is not simply how to produce energy, but how to ensure its management is capable of creating added value for the regions, creating jobs, and strengthening national economic independence," Irman noted.

The Head of the Expert Board for Economics and MSMEs of PP Muhammadiyah assessed that energy-producing regions should not merely serve as locations for natural resource exploitation. On the contrary, regions must become new centers of economic growth through industrial downstreaming, the development of new and renewable energy, the empowerment of MSMEs, and the enhancement of human resource quality.

"Ultimately, energy resilience is not just about securing supply. More importantly, it is about ensuring that energy becomes an instrument for equitable development, strengthening regional competitiveness, and bolstering the nation's economic sovereignty," he asserted.

The Leaders' Briefing 2026 addressed the theme "Building National Energy Resilience and Mobility," featuring Hashim S. Djojohadikusumo, Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Indonesia for Climate and Energy, as the Strategic Briefer.

Organized in collaboration with PT PLN (Persero), the forum was also attended by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono, President Director of PT PLN (Persero) Darmawan Prasodjo, leadership teams from ministries and state agencies, boards of directors of state-owned and regional-owned enterprises, Chief Executive Officers, corporate leaders, academics, and strategic partners from across sectors.

Furthermore, the member of Committee I of the DPD RI viewed cross-sector forums like the Leaders' Briefing as strategic spaces to foster dialogue among the government, the business sector, academia, and the public in formulating energy policies that serve national interests while remaining attentive to regional interests.

"Energy resilience must be built through collaboration among all stakeholders. That way, the resulting policies will not only meet present needs, but also serve as a foundation for Indonesia's sustainable economic development," he explained.

Concluding his remarks, the senator from West Sumatra expressed hope that the ideas developed during the Leaders' Briefing 2026 can be translated into policies capable of strengthening national energy resilience, driving industrial downstreaming, increasing added value in the regions, and delivering more equitable economic benefits for all Indonesian people