KOMPAS.com – The civil society coalition Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia, consisting of 31 organizations, is urging the new government to commit to realizing eight strategic missions known as Asta Cita, which includes the energy and natural resources (SDA) sectors.

The National Coordinator of PWYP Indonesia, Aryanto Nugroho, urges the new administration and its “Kabinet Merah Putih” to prioritize improving governance in the energy and natural resources sectors in line with the mandate of Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution, which states that natural resources should be utilized for the utmost prosperity of the people.

“There are at least three main priorities that should be prioritized: addressing the climate crisis through accelerated justice; strengthening democracy in governance, and enhancing oversight and law enforcement in the energy and natural resources sectors,” Aryanto said in his statement on Thursday, October 24, 2024.

He explained that the notes and recommendations or encouragement by PWYP for the new government are a reflection of the implementation of governance in the energy and natural resources sectors under the previous leadership.

“At the same time, it addresses the looming climate crisis, which, if not immediately acted upon, could trigger a bigger crisis, including a food crisis, and cause disparities if not managed properly,” he added.

PWYP Recommendations

He emphasized that accelerating a just energy transition is a necessity.

“Efforts to address the climate crisis must begin with reducing and halting the use of fossil fuels,” Aryanto revealed.

Especially since, in his inaugural speech shortly after taking his oath, President Prabowo mentioned energy self-sufficiency and the intent to optimize palm oil for producing diesel and gasoline, as well as other crops like cassava, sugar cane, sago, and corn.

Also, geothermal and coal are supporting energy self-sufficiency.

“We are very concerned that President Prabowo is trapped with ‘false solutions’ that prolong the dependency on fossil fuels, especially coal, or lead to deforestation and new land openings. This must be avoided,” Aryanto asserted.

He also highlighted the importance of indisputable transparency and accountability, especially as the space for civil society is becoming increasingly restricted.

“Democracy must recover. The government must create a safe space for community involvement in decision-making,” he added.

Digitalization and Supervision

Additionally, PWYP Indonesia highlights the necessity of digitalizing licensing in tandem with strict supervision and regulatory certainty to support business compliance.

They also propose the establishment of a law enforcement directorate in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to strengthen supervisory integrity.

Furthermore, the humanitarian principles in managing natural resources must be upheld. The energy transition era opens opportunities to utilize nickel and other critical minerals sustainably.

“Extraction must be aligned with environmental protection and community rights, including protection for indigenous peoples, protection of sensitive ecosystem areas (no-go zones), protection of community rights, mainstreaming of GEDSI (Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion). Also, advocating for the enforcement of the People before Profit and FPIC (Free, Prior, and Informed Consent) principles,” he stated.

Additionally, Aryanto emphasized that the mission to enhance added value must have the maximum impact for Indonesia.

“We hope that every downstream step in the energy sector can create investment, technology transfer, and job opportunities based on principles of justice, equality, transparency, and accountability,” he concluded.

Source: Kompas