President Chairs Meeting On Energy Security

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono chaired a coordination meeting at state oil and gas company PT Pertamina's head office here on Tuesday to discuss energy security.
        
Present at the meeting, which started at 10 am, were Vice President Boediono, Coordinating Minister for Economy Hatta Rajasa, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik, National Development Planning Minister Armida Alisjahbana, Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo and State Minister for State Enterprises Dahlan Iskan, among other ministers.
        
Earlier on Monday, President Yudhoyono held a coordination meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture to discuss matters related to agriculture and food security.
        
Citing data provided by several international bodies, the head of state said at Monday's meeting that climate change had a negative impact on food production.
       
Therefore, President Yudhoyono called on all concerned parties to assess the impact of climate change on the country's food availability and security.
        
He stated that food availability would be negatively affected as a result of climate change. "Our biggest challenge is that climate change coupled with a long spell of drought can raise global food prices. Therefore, we need to take steps to improve our food security and self-sufficiency," President Yudhoyono said.(*/M038)