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‘Stop being a disobedient child’, minister tells PLN
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Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said speaks to journalists at the State Palace in Jakarta recently. (Kompas.com/Indra Akuntono)
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nergy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said slammed on Friday state-owned electricity company Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) for constantly challenging the ministry's policies.
Sudirman's comments came following a series of public spats with PLN president director Sofyan Basir, with the latter complaining that several of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry’s energy policies were not profitable.
"PLN is a utility company whose goal is not just to gain profit, but also to do what's best to help the community," Sudirman explained during a speech at the ministry's Electricity Directorate General.
The minister acknowledged that PLN was not only responsible to his ministry, but also to the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Ministry. However, he insisted PLN must still prioritize its responsibilities to the former because it was the one issuing all technical regulations.
"The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry is the mother, we nurture and care for PLN, whereas the SOE Ministry is the father, who asks about your test scores. Stop being a disobedient child to your mother," he said.
Following a series of disagreements about PLN's electricity procurement business plan, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo ordered the company to allow more involvement from the private sector and to develop new and renewable energy sources. (tas)
