Indonesia announced on Tuesday plans to expand its crude oil refinery capacity to one million barrels per day across 16 locations, a significant jump from its initial target of 500,000 barrels per day at a single site. The decision was made following a meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and the Task Force at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday evening, as part of efforts to accelerate the country's energy downstream process. Earlier, Prabowo approved a proposal for 21 downstream projects worth 659.2 trillion rupiah ($40 billion), covering mining, oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors. Key priority projects include: * Construction of new oil refineries to boost domestic production. * Coal gasification for dimethyl ether (DME) production as an alternative fuel. * Mineral processing facilities for critical commodities such as copper, nickel, and bauxite. This ambitious expansion aligns with Indonesia's strategy to enhance energy security, reduce reliance on imports, and maximise the value of its natural resources. Attribution: Xinhua Subediting: Y.Yasser
