From Energy Transition to Legitimacy Crisis: A Narrative Policy Framework Analysis of Public Narratives on the Mataloko Geothermal Power Plant

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the public narrative construction related to the Mataloko Geothermal Power Plant on social media by employing the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) approach. The study stems from the contradiction between the idealization of geothermal energy as a form of green energy and the emergence of social resistance caused by its ecological and social impacts. Through a qualitative, case study based analysis, this research utilizes 287 posts from five social media platforms (X, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram) during the 2024–2025 period, categorized according to the four core elements of NPF: setting, character, plot, and moral of the story. The findings reveal that public narratives construct a symbolic structure, positioning the Catholic Church, WALHI NTT, and environmental activists as heroes, the government and PLN as villains, and local communities as victims. The narrative plot evolves from optimism toward energy transition to social resistance driven by information asymmetry, environmental degradation, and a crisis of policy legitimacy. Meanwhile, the moral message emphasizes the importance of energy justice and citizen participation in the development and implementation of renewable energy policies. These findings suggest that social legitimacy plays a key role in determining the success of energy projects and that digital narratives significantly influence public opinion, shaping the direction of Indonesia’s energy transition policies.