Despite persistent domestic energy access challenges, Indonesia remains firmly committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia said on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

He reaffirmed the country's climate commitments, including a renewable energy mix target of 23 percent by the end of this year.

“We have been committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2060 through a gradual transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy,” Bahlil said at the Energi Mineral Festival in Jakarta, jointly hosted by the ministry and B-Universe Media Holdings.

“Yet, several nations that once championed global climate commitments are now stepping back, citing domestic economic challenges,” he cited.

He underscored that Indonesia’s energy transition is not merely a global obligation, but a national imperative. “Renewables are good for the planet but more importantly, they are good for Indonesia’s long-term sustainability. Still, this transition must be aligned with our economic realities,” he added.

Despite the ambitious climate targets, Bahlil acknowledged that Indonesia continues to face deep-rooted energy access disparities.

He revealed that approximately 5,700 villages and 4,400 hamlets across the archipelago remain without electricity, decades after independence. In total, the government has identified over 10,000 unpowered areas.

“I must be honest, this is our reality,” Bahlil said. “Just recently, while visiting Papua and Sulawesi, I saw firsthand how many rural homes and villages are still relying on oil lamps.”

Reflecting on his own upbringing, Bahlil shared, “I myself am a product of lampu pelita (oil lamps). I studied under those lights during my early school years. And today, there are still children learning the way I did with flickering flames instead of electric bulbs.”

He stressed that President Prabowo Subianto has consistently directed the government to prioritize nationwide electrification. “The President has been clear from Aceh to Papua, every citizen must have access to reliable electricity,” Bahlil said.

The electrification push is seen as a key part of Indonesia’s broader energy transformation, which aims to balance decarbonization with inclusive development. Yet, as the country navigates its energy transition, officials acknowledge that achieving renewable goals while bridging basic infrastructure gaps will remain a complex task.

“Clean energy must not leave anyone behind. Our mission is not only about saving the climate it’s also about lighting every home in this nation,” Bahlil concluded.