Jakarta, October 29, 2025 – The urgency of women’s representation in the membership of the National Energy Council (DEN) has once again been echoed by civil society. Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia, along with several stakeholders, held a discussion themed “Empowering Change: The Urgency of Women’s Representation in the National Energy Council (DEN)” in Menteng, Central Jakarta. The event featured various speakers, including Member of Commission XII of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) Syarif Fasha, Secretary General of DEN Dadan Kusdiana, VP Human Capital & Business Support of PT Perta Life Insurance–Pertamina Group Mangaranap Rabehka Nathalia, and Community Development Coordinator of Kalyanamitra Windy Zaskia.
R. Mouna Wasef, Head of Research and Advocacy Division at PWYP Indonesia, emphasized that this event is part of a series of advocacy agendas aimed at promoting women’s representation in the selection process for DEN members from stakeholder elements. PWYP, together with the coalition, has been monitoring the situation since the opening of registrations in May through open discussions, campaigns, and meetings with the screening team. According to her, the 30 percent representation for women in DEN member seats is important, considering that the institution has strategic authority in formulating policies and coordinating national energy.
From the legislative side, Member of Commission XII DPR RI Syarif Fasha expressed his support for women’s roles in public spaces, including in DEN. He emphasized that affirmation must still align with the candidates’ competencies. Fasha also opened space for the public to provide input regarding the DEN member screening process, which is under the authority of the DPR in accordance with Law Number 30 of 2007 on Energy. He believes that women have great potential to fill DEN seats and stressed that competence remains the main factor in determining candidates.
Secretary General of DEN, Dadan Kusdiana, explained that the DEN member selection process has now entered the stage of announcing interview results. He revealed that out of the 16 candidate names who passed that stage, two are women, and all candidates who advanced have met the required competency standards.
Meanwhile, Windy Zaskia highlighted the importance of women’s involvement in energy policy-making spaces. According to her, women have a close relationship with energy issues through their domestic and social roles, so their presence is crucial in realizing a just energy transition. This is reinforced by the explanation that the relationship between women and energy cannot be separated from the social roles attached to women. Domestic work such as cooking, fetching water, washing, and childcare, is closely related to energy needs, so women often bear the direct impacts of unclean energy access. The use of firewood, for example, produces harmful pollutants that increase women’s vulnerability to respiratory disorders. Because energy significantly impacts women’s lives and women can influence the future direction of energy, their involvement is a crucial prerequisite for achieving a fair and sustainable energy transition.
The selection process for DEN members from stakeholder elements has been ongoing since May 2025 and is now entering the final stage. After the interview results are announced, the list of 16 candidate names will be submitted to the DPR. In accordance with legal provisions, through a fit and proper test process, the DPR will then select eight people to fill the DEN member seats from stakeholder elements.