Bahlil Lahadalia

What is circulating

“"Starting 1 July 2026 we no longer import diesel from abroad, and we have saved Rp170 trillion in foreign exchange," Prabowo said in his 14 August 2026 state address, crediting B50 biodiesel.”

Claimed by Prabowo Subianto, President · official statement

The facts

The B50 mandate was launched on 9 July 2026, not 1 July, and by late July B50 was available at only 57 percent of Pertamina stations in Java and Sumatra, with full rollout targeted for 1 October 2026. Producing the required FAME also depends on imported methanol, since domestic capacity of 400,000 to 600,000 tonnes a year is far below the roughly 2.5 million tonnes needed.

Fact check: Kompas.com Cek Fakta

What is circulating

“Bahlil announced eight new taxes, including on bicycles and watches priced from Rp1 million, smart TVs and two-door refrigerators.”

Claimed by Social media posts · social media

The facts

There is no government plan for these taxes and no statement from Bahlil about them. As energy minister he has no authority over taxation, which sits with the Finance Ministry's tax directorate, and the goods listed are already subject to VAT.

Fact check: Kompas.com Cek Fakta

What is circulating

“Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia proposed to the DPR that Jokowi be named a national hero.”

Claimed by Social media users · social media

The facts

The headline was doctored from a 22 January 2026 Gelora News article about Bahlil saying he cannot sleep with air conditioning because he was poor for so long. No such proposal by Bahlil was reported.

Fact check: Kompas.com Cek Fakta

What is circulating

“Reporting to President Prabowo on the night of 7 December 2025, Bahlil said electricity across Aceh was 93 percent restored: "tonight all of Aceh is on."”

Claimed by Bahlil Lahadalia, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister · official statement

The facts

Residents and volunteers reported the next day that most areas were still fully blacked out, and Bahlil apologised on 9 December, saying the grid was not 93 percent restored. As of 11 December 2025 the energy ministry itself reported Aceh's electricity was only 36 percent restored, with transmission towers on the Langsa to Pangkalan Brandan line still down.

Fact check: Kompas.com Cek Fakta

What is circulating

“A video shows Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia and National Economic Council chair Luhut Pandjaitan being arrested by police over Raja Ampat nickel mining.”

Claimed by Social media users · social media

The facts

The video carries a PixVerse.ai watermark, showing it was generated with an AI video app, and the deepware.ai detector rated it 91 percent likely to be a deepfake. Neither official was arrested.

Fact check: Kompas.com Cek Fakta

What is circulating

“A news headline says Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia asked the public to donate because the state treasury is empty.”

Claimed by Social media users · social media

The facts

The screenshot was doctored from an Antara article about Bahlil accompanying Prabowo to China in November 2024 to discuss downstream energy investment. Kompas found no record of Bahlil saying the treasury was empty or asking for donations.

Fact check: Kompas.com Cek Fakta