The Indonesian government, led by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, is accelerating the rollout of the B50 Biodiesel Program—a blend of 50% biodiesel and 50% fossil diesel—as part of its strategy to strengthen energy independence and reduce fuel imports. Speaking at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on October 24, Bahlil stated that the initiative follows President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to enhance domestic energy resilience through locally produced biofuels. The program has entered its final testing phase and is expected to be implemented nationwide in the second half of this year. Once operational, Indonesia aims to meet its diesel needs domestically, significantly lowering reliance on imported fuel.

Beyond reducing import dependency, the B50 initiative supports Indonesia’s broader economic and environmental goals, including the 2060 net-zero emissions target. The program is expected to save billions in foreign exchange and create added value for the domestic palm oil downstream industry, offering new opportunities for farmers and renewable energy producers. “We cannot keep depending on imports. If we can produce it domestically, our industries and farmers should benefit,” Bahlil said. With expanded refinery capacity and increased clean energy investments planned by 2026, the B50 policy marks a major step toward sustainable energy transition and national economic sovereignty.

Source: https://prabowosubianto.com/indonesia-moves-toward-b50-biodiesel-program-to-curb-fuel-imports/