Latest news with #EnergyandMineralResourcesMinistry
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
Indonesia doubles wage subsidies, cancels electricity discount in stimulus shake-up
JAKARTA: In last-minute changes to a planned consumer stimulus package for June and July, the Indonesian government has cancelled an electricity discount but doubled wage subsidies. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati (pic) revealed in a press conference on Monday (June 2) that the wage subsidies for low-income earners would double from Rp 150,000 (US$9) per month per individual to Rp 300,000. Eligible beneciaries include around 17.3 million workers earning up to Rp 3.5 million a month and some 565,000 'honorary teachers', a term commonly used for honorarium-based contract teachers. Sri Mulyani explained that the subsidies would ultimately be financed by BPJS Ketenagakerjaan but that the government would set aside Rp 10.72 trillion from the state coffers to 'temporarily' fund the programme. The wage subsidies are a part of a series of measures aimed at boosting consumer spending. When it was first announced last month, the package was to cover six areas, one being transportation discounts for trains, airplanes and ships, another area included discounts on road tolls for some 110 million eligible drivers. Two more areas were social aid for 18.3 million beneciaries and a discount on work accident insurance for employees in labour-intensive industries. When it was first announced last month, the package was to cover six areas, one being transportation discounts for trains, airplanes and ships, another area included discounts on road tolls for some 110 million eligible drivers. Two more areas were social aid for 18.3 million beneciaries and a discount on work accident insurance for employees in labour-intensive industries. The package originally also included a 50 per cent electricity discount for June and July, similar to what the government had granted in January and February. However, following a meeting at the State Palace and prior to June 2's press conference, Sri Mulyani announced that the discount was not doable. 'We have held a meeting with other ministers, and, for the implementation of the electricity discount, the budgeting process turned out to be a lot slower, so if we wanted it for June and July, we have determined that it could not be executed,' said Sri Mulyani. She explained the decision to double wage subsidies with the cancelled electricity discount. The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry issued a press statement on June 2 saying it had not been involved in the formulation of the stimulus initiative helmed by Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto. '(The ministry) was never part of a team or any forum that talked about the electricity discount for June and July 2025,' said the ministry's spokesperson Dwi Anggia in the statement. Earlier, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said he was unaware of the initiative just days ahead of the implementation. 'I don't know whether there's already (a discussion) on the technical (level) or not; I don't know yet. One thing is for sure, I still haven't received the report until today,' Bahlil said on May 26, or 10 days before the policy's planned implementation. Such a policy should require 'communication' with the energy ministry and the Finance Ministry, Bahlil said, adding that he could only formally instruct state-owned electricity company PLN to execute it after that. Bahlil proceeded to verify the planned policy with PLN president director Darmawan Prasodjo, who happened to stand next to the minister. 'I'm sure PLN still hasn't received (any instruction). Have you received any letters from the energy ministry? You haven't, have you? Because, as far as I'm concerned, I must sign the letters and I haven't done that,' Bahlil said to Darmawan. 'Not yet,' the PLN director briey replied. In total, the consumer spending stimulus required some Rp 24.4 trillion, according to figures presented by Sri Mulyani. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Indonesia doubles wage subsidies, cancels electricity discount in stimulus shake-up
Housing before the skyline of the Jakarta business district on May 9, 2025. PHOTO: AFP In last-minute changes to a planned consumer stimulus package for June and July, the Indonesian government has canceled an electricity discount but doubled wage subsidies. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati revealed in a press conference on June 2 that the wage subsidies for low-income earners would double from Rp 150,000 (S$11.8) per month per individual to Rp 300,000. Eligible beneciaries include around 17.3 million workers earning up to Rp 3.5 million a month and some 565,000 'honorary teachers', a term commonly used for honorarium-based contract teachers. Ms Sri Mulyani explained that the subsidies would ultimately be nanced by BPJS Ketenagakerjaan but that the government would set aside Rp 10.72 trillion from the state coffers to 'temporarily' fund the program. The wage subsidies are a part of a series of measures aimed at boosting to consumer spending. When it was first announced last month, the packaged was to cover six areas, one being transportation discounts for trains, airplanes and ships, another area included discounts on road tolls for some 110 million eligible drivers. Two more areas were social aid for 18.3 million beneciaries and a discount on work accident insurance for employees in labour-intensive industries. When it was first announced last month, the packaged was to cover six areas, one being transportation discounts for trains, airplanes and ships, another area included discounts on road tolls for some 110 million eligible drivers. Two more areas were social aid for 18.3 million beneciaries and a discount on work accident insurance for employees in labor-intensive industries. The package originally also included a 50 per cent electricity discount for June and July, similar to what the government had granted in January and February. However, following a meeting at the State Palace and prior to June 2's press conference, Ms Sri Mulyani announced that the discount was not doable. 'We have held a meeting with other ministers, and, for the implementation of the electricity discount, the budgeting process turned out to be a lot slower, so if we wanted it for June and July, we have determined that it could not be executed,' said Ms Sri Mulyani. She explained the decision to double wage subsidies with the canceled electricity discount. The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry issued a press statement on June 2 saying it had not been involved in the formulation of the stimulus initiative helmed by Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto. '(The ministry) was never part of a team or any forum that talked about the electricity discount for June and July 2025,' said the ministry's spokesperson Dwi Anggia in the statement. Earlier, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said he was unaware of the initiative just days ahead of the implementation. 'I don't know whether there's already (a discussion) on the technical (level) or not; I don't know yet. One thing is for sure, I still haven't received the report until today,' Mr Bahlil said on May 26, or 10 days before the policy's planned implementation. Such a policy should require 'communication' with the energy ministry and the Finance Ministry, Mr Bahlil said, adding that he could only formally instruct state-owned electricity company PLN to execute it after that. Bahlil proceeded to verify the planned policy with PLN president director Darmawan Prasodjo, who happened to stand next to the minister. 'I'm sure PLN still hasn't received (any instruction). Have you received any letters from the energy ministry? You haven't, have you? Because, as far as I'm concerned, I must sign the letters and I haven't done that,' Mr Bahlil said to Darmawan. 'Not yet,' the PLN director briey replied. In total, the consumer spending stimulus required some Rp 24.4 trillion, according to gures presented by Ms Sri Mulyani. THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Indonesian coal exports dip amid price dispute
Workers walk near a tugboat carrying coal barges at a port in Palembang, South Sumatra province, Indonesia, January 4, 2022. Antara Foto/Nova Wahyudi/ via REUTERS/File Photo JAKARTA: Indonesian coal exports dropped 6.43% to 160 million tonnes in the January-April period of 2025, according to data from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. Surya Herjuna, the ministry's coal business development director, denied that high reference prices were to blame, but traders have warned that misaligned pricing indices could further erode global demand as thermal coal prices hit four-year lows. Surya said the declining exports were caused partly by geopolitical tensions, which have dampened demand from key buyers, especially China and India, the two most populous countries. 'Due to the trade war, production activity in both countries has slowed,' he said during a discussion in Jakarta last Wednesday, as Bisnis reported. Chinese customs reported a 20% year-on-year (yoy) decline in April. Some buyers have cited Indonesia's reference coal price as a possible deterrent, arguing it was higher than global market rates. Surya denied that claim, noting that domestic coal sales had also dropped to 12 million tonnes in the first quarter from 16 million tonnes a year prior. Asia's seaborne thermal coal prices have dropped to their lowest levels in four years, driven by reduced imports from major buyers China, India and Japan, according to a recent Reuters report. Prices for key thermal coal grades from top exporters Indonesia and Australia have been steadily declining since October and have fallen more sharply in recent weeks amid weakening demand. — The Jakarta Post/ANN
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- General
- Express Tribune
Collapse of Indonesia quarry kills 19, six still missing as rescue efforts continue
Drone view of search and rescue operations in the aftermath of rock collapse at a quarry in Cirebon, West Java Province, Indonesia May 30, 2025 in this picture obtained from social media. PHOTO: REUTERS Listen to article A rock collapse at a quarry at Cirebon in West Java province has killed 19 people, injured eight and there are six still missing, local police said on Sunday. Indonesian search and rescue agency Basarnas said authorities continued their search on Sunday for people trapped in the rubble after the collapse on Friday. Police said they had named two suspects for environmental law violations and for not providing safety equipment and for negligence. The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry said in a statement it would investigate the cause of the collapse and conduct an assessment to identify any potential further landslides. Cirebon Regency is prone to soil movement, especially when precipitation is above normal, while the area of the collapse has a cliff slope, the chief of the ministry's geological agency, Muhammad Wafid, said in the statement. Wafid said the undercutting method used in the open mining area and the steep slope may also have played a role in the collapse. "While carrying out evacuation and search efforts, (rescuers) must pay attention to the weather and steep slopes, and not carry out activities during and after heavy rain, because this area still has the potential for further landslides that could hit or bury officers," Wafid said. The site of Friday's collapse in Cirebon is dangerous and "does not meet safety standards for workers", West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi posted on Instagram.
India Today
3 days ago
- Climate
- India Today
17 killed after quarry collapses in Indonesia, search on for 8 trapped workers
Indonesian authorities will continue searching on Sunday for eight people trapped in a rock collapse at a quarry in West Java, where the death toll has reached 17 with six injured, the search and rescue agency Basarnas toll, as reported by the victims' families, is provisional, the agency said in a statement late on site of Friday's collapse in Cirebon is dangerous and "does not meet safety standards for workers", West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi posted on The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry said in a statement it would investigate the cause of the collapse and conduct an assessment to identify any potential further Regency is prone to soil movement, especially when precipitation is above normal, while the area of the collapse has a cliff slope, the chief of the ministry's geological agency, Muhammad Wafid, said in the said the undercutting method used in the open mining area and the steep slope may also have played a role in the collapse."While carrying out evacuation and search efforts, (rescuers) must pay attention to the weather and steep slopes, and not carry out activities during and after heavy rain, because this area still has the potential for further landslides that could hit or bury officers," Wafid Watch
