Bahlil had met with Lawrence Wong, Singapore's Prime Minister, and expressed Indonesia's readiness to export electricity. However, he said the permit would only be opened if there was a clear reciprocity.

"We are friends with Singapore. Indonesia is so good, we continue to support Singapore. Now we ask him [Singapore PM], when will he support us? That's more or less," Bahlil said on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.

He, however, did not reveal in detail the form of support that Indonesia expects from Singapore. In addition to renewable energy from the Riau Islands, he also revealed that Singapore requested a Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) facility to capture carbon emissions from their industry.

"Don't just ask and then you never give us what we have given you. So, don't build the perception that we don't support you," he said.

Bahlil also revealed that he was asked by Darmawan Prasodjo, President Director of the state energy utility company PT PLN regarding the electricity export policy, because it was considered a profitable business opportunity. However, he was reluctant to open a permit for green electricity exports to Singapore.

"Building this country is not just about business. We must also uphold the sovereignty and dignity of the red and white (Indonesia) country, so that other countries also take into account the part that we must be in win-win situation," Bahlil said.

Earlier, President Prabowo Subianto and Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of Singapore, discussed economic cooperation in an effort to increase Singapore's investment in Indonesia in priority sectors.

These sectors include renewable energy, industrial downstreaming, food security, health, digital and semiconductors to the development of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) in East Kalimantan.

In addition, Indonesia and Singapore are committed to collaborating on low-carbon technology development and cross-border electricity interconnection projects. They also agreed to cooperate on green hydrogen development in Sumatra and solar power plants.