Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa criticized Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia regarding the use of the National Socio-Economic Single Data (DTSEN) for distributing fuel subsidies.

Purbaya stated that the database is available and ready to use, but the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has not utilized it yet.

“We have DTSEN. It is ready and has been used by the Minister of Social Affairs (Saifullah Yusuf), but it hasn’t been used by Minister of Energy (Bahlil Lahadalia). We will discuss with them so that DTSEN can be properly applied moving forward,” Purbaya said during a Working Meeting with Commission XI of the Indonesian House of Representatives in Central Jakarta on Tuesday (September 30).

He added that, so far, wealthy individuals have still benefited from government subsidies, especially in the energy sector. Purbaya wants future subsidy distribution to be more targeted.

He emphasized that the government cannot yet eliminate the subsidy program, as Indonesia’s economic growth has not been fast enough.

In line with this, Purbaya supports President Prabowo Subianto’s ambition to raise Indonesia’s economic growth to 8 percent. He stressed that weak economic growth would have a major impact on the lowest-income groups.

“Subsidies are issued so that people can continue to live and have a decent standard of living. The key is to stimulate faster economic growth so that prosperity spreads. Eventually, subsidies could be reduced,” he explained.

“Although reaching 8 percent may be challenging, as long as we move in that direction, not downward like before, our long-term goal will gradually be achieved,” Purbaya added.

He reported that the 2025 subsidy and compensation budget is Rp498.8 trillion, with actual spending as of August 2025 reaching Rp218 trillion, or 43.7 percent.

Purbaya stressed that not all Indonesians benefit equally from economic growth, making subsidies necessary.

“Subsidies are one of the tools to ensure that everyone can enjoy the benefits of a growing economy,” Purbaya concluded.