Backgrounder

June 3, 2025

The long-awaited 2025-2034 Electricity Procurement Business Plan (RUPTL), launched by the Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ministry on May 26, 2025, signals a shift in the government’s energy priorities—placing greater emphasis on energy security over the green transition. The new RUPTL marks a departure from the previous 2021-2030 RUPTL, which aimed for no new fossil-based capacity additions by 2030. In contrast, the 2025-2034 plan delays the significant ramp-up of renewable energy capacity to the second half of the decade, indicating a slower pace for Indonesia’s energy transition ambitions.

June 2, 2025

Every five years, Indonesia holds a multi-party general election typically participated in by around 20 political parties. But every time the nation launches a discourse on how best to finance these parties, someone in the room will quickly shout “corruption”, a reflection of the distrust the public has toward them.

June 2, 2025

The Indonesian Military (TNI) has begun deploying personnel to protect all prosecutor's offices nationwide, a move that has sparked widespread debate due to a lack of clear explanation and a solid legal basis presented to the public. Critics suggest this deployment, favoring the military over the police, although not unprecedented, further showcases the TNI’s intention to flex its muscles beyond its defense realm.

May 30, 2025

President Prabowo Subianto has officially launched the initial production of the Forel and Terubuk oil and gas fields located in the South Natuna Sea Block B, Riau Islands Province. The block is operated by Medco E&P Natuna Ltd., a subsidiary of PT Medco Energi Internasional. This milestone aligns with the government’s drive toward energy self-sufficiency and is further bolstered by signs of renewed interest from global energy giants Chevron Corporation and TotalEnergies, both of whom had previously exited Indonesia due to shifting oil and gas regulations.

May 28, 2025

The National Police have launched a massive crackdown on preman (thugs), following a series of high-profile cases of violence and extortion linked to them that embarrassed the country in the eyes of foreign investors. While some of those arrested will face prosecution, it is unlikely that the larger organizations behind them will be dissolved as President Prabowo Subianto has ordered.

May 27, 2025

President Prabowo Subianto has once again turned to loyalists with military backgrounds to fill key leadership roles in the Finance Ministry’s revenue-generating directorates. His decision to appoint an active military general to head the customs office and an alumnus of military-style Taruna Nusantara (Tarnus) high school to lead the tax office has sparked concerns over the erosion of meritocracy and the growing influence of cronyism in public administration.

May 26, 2025

In his unending quest to find a political party to call home, former president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s name has now been thrown into the mix of potential candidates to contest the upcoming race for the chairmanship of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI). The nascent party has no legislative seats, but it has a fair share of power within President Prabowo Subianto’s government.