RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, emphasized that the development of hydrogen is one of the government's priorities in supporting downstreaming and the transition to clean energy. According to him, hydrogen is not only an alternative energy source for the future but also opens up opportunities for utilizing domestic resources to create added value for the national economy.

Bahlil conveyed this during the opening of the Global Hydrogen Ecosystem Summit (GHES) 2026 in Jakarta, Thursday, July 23, 2026. The forum serves as a platform for collaboration between the government, industry players, academics, and international partners to accelerate the development of the hydrogen ecosystem in Indonesia.

Bahlil said that hydrogen development aligns with the government's policy direction in strengthening national energy resilience amid global geopolitical dynamics. According to him, Indonesia has great potential due to the availability of raw materials, such as water, natural gas, and low-calorific coal, which can be processed into hydrogen through technology.

"Hydrogen is an alternative energy. First, it is a global demand. Second, it is part of downstream processing. Because hydrogen is produced from water, gas, and low-calorie coal. So we can convert our fossil from low-calorie coal into hydrogen with technology," Bahlil said.

He added that the development of hydrogen not only supports the transition to clean energy but also becomes part of efforts to increase the added value of natural resources, strengthen the national industry, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

On the other hand, Bahlil acknowledged that hydrogen development still faces challenges, especially in terms of production costs, which are currently higher compared to other energy sources. Nevertheless, the government is optimistic that technological advancements will make hydrogen more competitive in the future.

"Therefore, we in Indonesia, under the direction of the President, will not deviate from the decision that we will achieve net zero emissions by 2050-2060. For that reason, today we will promote hydrogen," he explained.

In addition to being used as a transportation fuel, hydrogen is also considered to have great potential to support the development of the petrochemical industry and other clean energy sources. The government is optimistic that hydrogen development will become one of the key pillars in achieving the Net Zero Emission target while also driving sustainable economic growth.