Indonesia’s Energy Policy as a Forum for Justice in the Global Green Transition

Journal: Jurnal Pelita Raya

Publication: 2026-08-15 · Vol. 2 No. 2 · pp. 84–102

DOI: 10.65586/jpr.v2i2.110

Abstract

In the context of the global green transition, Indonesia’s energy policy has become a contested arena where decarbonisation agendas, power relations and distributive justice collide. This study analyses how policies, configurations of actors, discourses and power relations shape the distribution of the benefits and burdens of the energy transition, determining the prospects for a just transition. A qualitative approach is employed, using a critical case study design complemented by descriptive quantitative analysis. The findings suggest that Indonesia’s energy transition involves more than just a shift from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy. It also constitutes an arena for the redistribution of power, benefits and risks. Coal production illustrates a paradox in that it contributes to state revenue, energy security and the regional economy, while also concentrating socio-ecological costs. Conversely, nickel and electric vehicles demonstrate that the green economy can perpetuate extractivism and generate new dependencies when resource advantages are not transformed into technological proficiency and equitable value distribution. These findings suggest that energy injustice arises not only as a consequence of policy, but also through political mechanisms determining who reaps the benefits, bears the risks and influences the direction of the transition.