Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s energy minister said President Prabowo Subianto has instructed his cabinet to prioritise energy sovereignty and self-reliance in 2026, underscoring the sector’s role in driving economic growth and improving public welfare.Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said the directive was delivered during an all-day cabinet retreat led by Prabowo on Tuesday at the Garuda Yaksa complex in Hambalang, West Java.Speaking after the retreat, Bahlil said the president strongly emphasised the implementation of key government programmes in energy, oil and gas next year.“The focus is on 2026 programmes, especially people-oriented initiatives and performance indicators related to energy sovereignty, food security, nutrition, education and other priority programmes,” Bahlil told reporters.He said the programmes were designed to boost economic growth while enhancing public services.Prabowo chaired the retreat from midday until late evening. Ministers, agency heads, and senior officials attended the session.The retreat opened with Prabowo’s annual policy briefing for 2026, which was held in an open session, followed by closed-door discussions evaluating government performance and reviewing ministerial reports.During the closed session, several ministers presented updates on the implementation of priority programmes and outlined challenges expected in the coming year.Bahlil reiterated the cabinet’s commitment to supporting the administration of President Prabowo and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.“Ministers are assistants to the president. His instructions are mandatory for us so we can move in one direction,” Bahlil said.He said unity and discipline within the cabinet were essential to ensure effective policy execution and timely delivery of flagship programmes.Speaking also in his capacity as chairman of the Golkar Party, Bahlil said parties within the ruling coalition remained fully committed to backing Prabowo’s government.“We are a solid coalition, all supporting the president and the government to ensure the success of programmes focused on public services and people’s welfare,” he said.He listed key priorities including the free nutritious meals programme, education, infrastructure, healthcare, investment, downstream industrialisation, and food and energy sovereignty.Bahlil said the energy sector would play a central role in supporting these goals, particularly through efforts to strengthen domestic supply, reduce import dependence and expand value-added industries.He added that coordination across ministries and political alignment within the coalition would be crucial to fulfill the government’s economic and social targets in 2026.