PALMOILMAGAZINE, KARAWANG, INDONESIA – President Prabowo Subianto officially launched Indonesia’s B50 Biodiesel Program on Thursday, describing it as a historic milestone in the country’s pursuit of energy independence. With the rollout, Indonesia has become the first country in the world to implement a mandatory biodiesel blend containing 50% palm oil-based fuel.
Speaking during the launch ceremony in Karawang, West Java, Prabowo said the achievement represents more than a technological breakthrough. It demonstrates Indonesia’s ability to harness its abundant natural resources for the benefit of its own people.
“Indonesia is officially the first country in the world to implement mandatory B50 biodiesel. This is not merely a technological achievement, but proof that Indonesia can utilize its own natural wealth for the welfare of its people,” the President said.
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Prabowo emphasized that a nation’s resilience depends on its ability to secure three strategic pillars: food security, energy independence, and water availability. These sectors, he said, form the foundation of sustainable development and long-term national prosperity.
According to the President, Indonesia has already made significant progress in food production, claiming that the government’s food self-sufficiency target—initially expected to take four years—was achieved within just one year.
“We have proven that Indonesia is capable of producing enough food for its own people. The food self-sufficiency target has been achieved much faster than anticipated,” he said.
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Addressing skepticism surrounding the government’s food security agenda, Prabowo stressed that public leaders must always communicate honestly with citizens.
“Leaders must never lie to the people. The interests of the nation must always come before any other interest,” he said.
Prabowo noted that his commitment to strengthening Indonesia’s energy security began long before assuming the presidency. During his tenure as Minister of Defense, he supported research and technological development aimed at advancing national energy independence and strengthening the country’s strategic natural resources.
He also highlighted the government’s efforts to improve water security through the construction of groundwater wells in regions facing shortages of clean water, describing the initiative as another key element of Indonesia’s national resilience strategy.
The President further pointed to Indonesia’s vast energy resources, including geothermal reserves, coal, natural gas, and newly discovered oil and gas fields in Andaman, Masela Block, Natuna, and Kalimantan.
In the natural gas sector, Prabowo said Indonesia possesses substantial compressed natural gas (CNG) reserves that will continue to be developed as an alternative energy source. The government is also pursuing coal gasification projects to diversify domestic energy supplies.
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He stressed that maximizing these resources is essential for Indonesia to navigate geopolitical uncertainties and safeguard long-term energy security.
Regarding biodiesel, Prabowo revealed that he had initially advocated for an eventual transition to B100, or pure biodiesel. However, technical assessments by the government concluded that implementing B50 alone would eliminate Indonesia’s need to import diesel fuel.
“From the beginning, I encouraged us to move toward B100. But my ministers assured me that B50 alone would enable Indonesia to stop importing diesel from abroad,” he said.
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Prabowo concluded that the B50 program will not only reinforce national energy security but also expand domestic demand for palm oil, increase value creation within the downstream palm oil industry, and deliver direct economic benefits to millions of Indonesian oil palm smallholders.
“B50 symbolizes Indonesia’s determination to stand on the strength of its own resources. It is a strategic step toward becoming a more independent, sovereign, and resilient nation in the face of global challenges,” he said. (P2)
