REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Prabowo Subianto moved the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) efficiency fund to accelerate disaster recovery in Sumatra. The policy was presented at the Plenary Cabinet Session at the Istana Negara, Jakarta, on Monday (15/12/2025), as a step to ensure rehabilitation and reconstruction proceed without the issue of funding.
The president placed the use of efficiency proceeds budgets as a key pillar of disaster management, from infrastructure restoration to operational support of local governments. The central government set up a rapid mechanism for immediate use of funds in the affected regions, especially Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
“The state budget has been prepared. This budget comes from the savings we have made,” Prabowo said, quoted Tuesday (16/12/2025).
The president called on the entire ranks to maximize the utilization of these funds in order to accelerate work on the ground. In the same session, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia reported on the recovery conditions of the energy sector which still faces severe constraints. Infrastructure damage and limited access hampered the restoration of electricity and the distribution of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in a number of affected areas.
The president insists the restoration of electricity must go hand in hand with safety principles. Most areas have been reconnected to electricity, but there are still locations that cannot be serviced due to the high risk of flooding and damaged networks.
“Cables passing through areas that are still inundated are dangerous. If forced to connect electricity, this could cause casualties,” Prabowo said, alluding to PLN's working conditions in the field.
Technically, Bahlil exposed the development of electricity supply in Aceh. Generating capacity in Banda Aceh reaches about 110 megawatts (MW) with an average load of 66 MW, partly still relying on generator sets. The mains network has been installed at about 80—90 percent and is targeted to return to normal within weeks, so that the flow from Arun and Bireuen can enter in full.
Sumatra's interisland energy distribution has been connected to the basic grid. However, distribution to villages is still hampered by damaged roads, collapsed power poles, and flooding that risk triggering accidents if electricity is prematurely switched on.
For fuel and LPG supplies, West Sumatra was reported to be relatively better. North Sumatra still faces LPG limitations due to impaired road access, requiring additional supply by sea. In Aceh, three districts can only be reached by airway.
“In three districts in Aceh, extraordinary efforts are needed because land access has not been possible,” Bahlil said.
He explained that distribution was carried out using helicopters and Hercules aircraft, the use of alternative routes, to delivery using rafts. Data from the ESDM Disaster Alert Team as of Monday (15/12/2025) at 19:00 WIB recorded a nationwide record of 1,789,566 customers affected, with 1,591,271 customers having reignited and 198,296 customers still extinguished.
In Aceh, 774,401 out of 970,954 customers have recovered, leaving 539 villages still extinguished. North Sumatra recorded 543,346 of 554,048 customers had reignited, while West Sumatra recorded 273,804 of 274,564 customers had recovered despite afterflooding in some jorong.
To strengthen the momentum in the region, the President distributed a tactical operational fund of Rp 20 billion to each affected governor and Rp 4 billion to 52 regents and mayors outside the recovery budget. The funds have been sent within three days of the instructions being given and are expected to immediately accelerate the restoration of basic services as well as infrastructure for the affected communities.
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