Malang: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has announced plans to build at least 30 ethanol plants, with the number potentially increasing to 50, to accelerate the country’s transition to higher ethanol-blended petrol and strengthen energy self-sufficiency.
Speaking during a simultaneous harvest event in Malang, East Java, Prabowo said Indonesia had already begun using E10 petrol, containing 10% ethanol, but expansion to E20 would require a significant increase in ethanol production capacity, VOI reported.
“We can move to E20, but it requires factories. At present, we only have one ethanol plant. I have decided that we will build at least 30 factories, and if necessary, up to 50,” he said.
Prabowo compared Indonesia’s progress with other countries, noting that India has already adopted E20 fuel, while Brazil uses E100, or pure ethanol fuel.
“India has E20. Brazil has E100. Why can’t Indonesia? Indonesia can,” he said.
Ethanol, a renewable fuel produced from crops such as sugarcane, is blended with petrol to reduce fossil fuel consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Under the E20 programme, ethanol accounts for 20% of the fuel blend.
The President said expanding ethanol production forms part of the government’s broader strategy to achieve energy independence. He added that Indonesia had already increased the use of palm oil-based biodiesel and stopped importing diesel fuel from June this year.
During the event, Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) Commander General Agus Subiyanto said the Air Force had supported the cultivation of 236,048 hectares of sugarcane during the 2026 harvest season.
He estimated sugarcane production at 18.39 million tonnes, equivalent to around 1.36 million tonnes of sugar.
Besides sugar, sugarcane can also be processed into molasses, bioethanol, organic fertiliser and raw materials for industrial and pharmaceutical applications, highlighting its growing role in Indonesia’s biofuel strategy.
