Speaking at a harvest festival at the Abdulrachman Saleh Air Force Base in Malang, East Java, on Friday, July 17, the President highlighted Indonesia’s position as a global pioneer in biofuel technology.
Indonesia is the first country in the world capable of producing a diesel blend containing 50 percent palm oil-based biodiesel.
“We have succeeded in becoming the first country in the world to produce B50,” Prabowo said, according to a statement released by the Presidential Secretariat.
“We are now producing diesel fuel from palm oil. So, starting this July, we will no longer import diesel fuel from abroad.”
The head of state explained that terminating diesel imports will yield significant economic benefits for the public.
By halting foreign fuel purchases, the government aims to redirect state funds directly into local agricultural sectors.
“It is better if the money circulates in Indonesia, benefiting palm oil farmers throughout the country,” Prabowo remarked.
The transition to B50 is part of a broader, accelerated strategy to leverage Indonesia’s abundant domestic resources for energy security.
Beyond biodiesel, the government has kicked off the development of E10—a gasoline variant blended with 10 percent bioethanol—as a stepping stone toward broader bioethanol adoption.
Indonesia aims to eventually scale this up to an E20 blend.
To support these targets, the government plans to fast-track the construction of new bioethanol processing facilities.
Prabowo acknowledged that domestic production capacity requires a massive push, given that Indonesia currently operates only one functional bioethanol plant.
Translator: Maria Cicilia Galuh Prayudhia, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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