Indonesia Races to Stockpile Food and Build Dams as El Nino Threat Looms
Indonesia is scrambling to secure food and energy supplies, importing 45,900 tons of US cooking gas and opening five new dams, as officials warn the country must stockpile not just rice but all staples to survive the coming dry season.
Indonesia is facing a double threat: a looming El Nino that could trigger food shortages and price spikes, and ongoing energy supply risks. To counter this, the government is taking aggressive steps to stabilize reserves and boost domestic production.
Experts are urging the government to broaden its food reserve strategy beyond rice. They warn that relying solely on rice stockpiles leaves the country vulnerable to shortages of other essentials like cooking oil, sugar, and meat during the El Nino-driven dry season [195400]. The call for a wider stockpile comes as President Prabowo Subianto announced that Indonesia has already achieved a significant food surplus, calling it a key step toward national self-sufficiency and a shift away from past reliance on imports [193266].
In a parallel push to secure future supplies, President Prabowo inaugurated five new strategic dams across the country [193257][193268]. The dams are expected to increase irrigation for farmland, boost rice output by up to 1 million metric tons, and provide reliable water supplies for communities [193255][193268]. Officials say the projects will help reduce dependence on rain-fed agriculture and support the nation’s goal of becoming a "world food barn" [193262][193268].
At the same time, Indonesia is shoring up its energy reserves. State-owned energy firm PT Pertamina Patra Niaga completed a major transoceanic supply mission, importing 45,900 tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the United States to prevent supply gaps for household cooking and heating [195375]. The move complements stricter oversight on domestic coal quotas, where the Ministry of Energy is intensifying scrutiny on mining companies to ensure they meet their obligations to supply local power plants before exporting [194326]. The risk of global energy disruption remains high, as analysts warn that a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz could drive up energy costs and raise food production and transport costs, adding to inflationary pressures [195299].