In a discussion on energy self-sufficiency in Bandung on Tuesday, the experts agreed that increasing domestic refinery capacity would create structural efficiencies that would have a direct impact on public finances through energy price stability.
Yayan Satyakti, an energy economist from Padjadjaran University (Unpad), explained that Indonesia has been caught in the grip of global market price sensitivity due to limited buffer reserves and refinery capacity, which makes domestic fuel prices highly vulnerable to exchange rate fluctuations.
"From an import substitution perspective, this will certainly expand fiscal space and reduce our dependence on imports. That's clearly a positive thing," Yayan said.
He emphasized that the RDMP currently being developed by Pertamina in Balikpapan represents an initial step toward narrowing the fiscal gap. However, Yayan cautioned that this development should not be concentrated on a single point.
"This RDMP is a good first step toward energy self-sufficiency, but we must think long-term. It shouldn't stop at just one refinery; it must encompass all of Indonesia," he said.
In line with this, Pasundan University (Unpas) economist Acuviarta Kartabi said the RDMP project has the potential to become an important economic legacy for the current Prabowo Subianto administration.
According to him, fuel imports are a major component that often "drains" national foreign exchange reserves. If diesel fuel demand could be met entirely by domestic refineries, the demand for foreign exchange would decrease significantly.
"Fuel imports are one of the components that significantly drain foreign exchange. If imports can be reduced, demand for foreign exchange, particularly the dollar, will decrease, significantly impacting the stability of the rupiah exchange rate," said Acuviarta.
From a security perspective, Unpad public policy observer Bonti Wiradinata assessed that strengthening energy infrastructure is in line with Government Regulation Number 40 of 2025.
He warned that amidst the heating up of global geopolitics, energy is the foundation of national defense that must not be fragmented.
"Energy is one of the gateways to a nation's weaknesses. If energy is disrupted, the nation's resilience will also weaken," said Bonti.
The RDMP project in Balikpapan has successfully increased processing capacity from 260,000 barrels to 360,000 barrels per day. This 100,000 barrels per day capacity increase is key to achieving the government's ambitious target.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia emphasized that the existence of this refinery is the backbone of ending dependence on foreign diesel in the next few years.
With these modern refineries operating optimally, Indonesia is projected to not only achieve energy self-sufficiency but also have a more resilient economic foundation against external shocks.
