Berita Baru, Jakarta – Several civil society organizations have urged the DPR, especially Commission XII, to improve governance in the energy, environment, and natural resources (SDA) sectors. This pressure has strengthened after ratifying the House’s Internal Regulation (AKD), which places Commission XII as the party responsible for strategic issues in the energy, environment, and investment sectors.
The National Coordinator of Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia, Aryanto Nugroho, emphasized the importance of the DPR improving its performance through its legislative, oversight, and budgeting functions. According to him, the DPR’s performance in this sector for the 2019-2024 period is still far from expectations.
“The DPR must be able to answer public expectations so as not to merely serve as a rubber stamp for the government merely,” said Aryanto in a written statement on Monday (10/28/2024). He emphasized the importance of Commission XII to ensure that the government can face the challenges of the climate crisis and accelerate a just energy transition.
In addition, civil society is also demanding greater transparency and participation in legislative discussions, especially those related to energy and SDA. A researcher from the Indonesian Parliamentary Center (IPC), Arif Adiputro, stated that there are still closed meetings in the legislative process that should be open to the public.
“In the Law on Public Information Disclosure (KIP) and the DPR’s technical regulations, meetings that do not concern the country’s defense strategy should be open to the public,” Arif emphasized. He also added that the DPR must increase public participation in discussing Bills, such as the New and Renewable Energy (EBET) Bill and the issue of climate justice.
In addition to the issue of transparency, Arif highlighted the many targets of the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) that still need to be completed, such as the Oil and Gas Bill and the EBET Bill. He assessed that the solutions offered in the current draft of the EBET Bill still need to reflect the spirit of a just energy transition.
“There are still many wrong solutions, such as the use of nuclear energy and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS/CCUS) in the EBET Bill,” Arif explained.
Meanwhile, Syaharani, Acting Head of the Environmental Governance and Climate Justice Division of the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL), highlighted the major task of Commission XII: reviewing the substance of the EBET Bill in its entirety. According to him, the regulation gives many incentives to high-risk and carbon-intensive energy.
Syaharani also criticized the revision of the Government Regulation (PP) regarding the National Energy Policy (KEN) previously approved by Commission VII of the DPR. According to him, this revision lowers the target for using renewable energy. It increases the projection of gas utilization, contrary to global recommendations to accelerate renewable energy development.
“Supervision of law enforcement in the energy and environmental sectors is also essential. Without strong supervision, ambitious regulations will only be discourse,” concluded Syaharani.