Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has called on producers and distributors of coal, crude palm oil, and their derivatives to prioritize domestic needs before exporting, signaling tighter controls on commodity exports.

“I would like to stress the need to prioritize coal production for our national need. This directive also applies to palm oil,” he said while chairing a plenary cabinet meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta on Friday (March 13).

Addressing ministers and state agency leaders, Prabowo reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that Indonesia’s natural wealth benefits the broader public.

He assured the public that national interests underpin every policy governing the management of the country’s abundant natural resources.

In this regard, the Indonesian president urged Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia to take firm measures to deter coal and palm oil companies from exporting before securing sufficient supplies for domestic demand.

He added that while companies may run businesses, all natural resources ultimately belong to the Indonesian nation.

Echoing the president’s directive, Lahadalia emphasized the implementation of the Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) policy to regulate commodity outflows and ensure adequate supply for national needs.

“We impose DMO on coal companies that have submitted work and budget plans. We will withhold export permits from those that fail to meet domestic needs,” he said, underscoring the government’s focus on domestic supply.

Lahadalia added that his ministry had prepared a regulation to formalize the coal policy.

“We have readied a ministerial decree mandating that coal production must first be allocated for domestic needs, with any surplus allowed for export,” the minister said.

Lahadalia noted that the measure forms part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen national energy security.