Jonan, a former banker, is adamant about not providing incentives to attract high-risk capital-intensive investment in the sector or even in renewable energy development in the name of being “pro-people.”

Indonesia, he suggested, should follow in the footsteps of Japan, China and Western Europe where energy security is maintained without having indigenous or sufficient hydrocarbon resources. Indonesia, a former member of oil cartel OPEC, has been importing almost half of its oil consumption for the last decade.

When asked how Indonesia could ensure its energy security, Jonan said in a recent interview, “What’s important is purchasing power. What we are doing [to ensure energy security] is first to ensure that we have purchasing power, and second that we have the technology to develop renewable energy.”