The government through the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) together with PT PLN (Persero) is coordinating to develop hydrogen utilization for national strategic industries. This was stated at the Global Hydrogen Ecosystem Summit and Exhibition held by the Jakarta International Convention Center, on April 15-17th, 2025. Bahlil said that the development of hydrogen is in line with President Prabowo Subianto's vision, especially regarding energy self-sufficiency which includes green energy, new renewable energy, and hydrogen through downstreaming. "The use of hydrogen can also support the national strategic industry. When Indonesia encouraged the development of electric cars or battery cars, hydrogen was still expensive in the past, not yet competitive in terms of price. And this is a new technology," said Bahlil, when opening the event at JICC.
Indonesia has three sources that can be used as raw materials for hydrogen through the downstreaming process, coal, gas, and water. PLN's President Director, Darmawan Prasodjo, said that his party currently has an excess supply of hydrogen produced from the water electrolysis process, which is 128 tons. He explained that the excess hydrogen supply comes from a water electrolysis project for power plant cooling that PLN is working on with the best researchers in Indonesia. The project produces 200 tons of hydrogen, while PLN only needs 75 tons. The use of hydrogen from excess production can reduce car operating costs to only IDR 550 per kilometer, cheaper than gasoline or recharging at public stations. PLN has 28 locations with the potential for excess hydrogen that can be optimized as an alternative and efficient energy source without the need for additional capital expenditure or new operations. Finally, Darmawan hopes that the government can fully support the development and use of hydrogen for the needs of the country's industry in the future.
