JAKARTA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia will build a methanol plant worth 1.2 billion U.S. dollars in Bojonegoro, East Java, as part of the country's efforts to achieve national energy sovereignty, said Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia on Wednesday.
"The construction of this methanol plant is crucial to support the mandatory biodiesel program, as methanol is used in the biodiesel production process," Bahlil said during the National Investment Coordination Meeting in Jakarta.
Bahlil added that Indonesia needs around 2 million to 2.3 million tons of methanol, highlighting the importance of the methanol plant's downstream development.
The ministry has requested support from the Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory to ensure a gas supply of 90 MMBtu (million British thermal units) for the methanol plant. ■
