JAKARTA, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government has officially implemented the B40 biodiesel regulation, effective Jan. 1, 2025, increasing the biodiesel fuel quota by 20 percent. This move is part of a broader strategy to enhance energy security and reduce diesel imports in line with President Prabowo Subianto's directives.
"The B35 rule allowed us to manufacture 12.98 million kiloliters of biodiesel, and the B40 regulation raised it to 15.6 million kiloliters," said Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia during a press conference on Friday.
With this determination, Bahlil ensured that the government had prepared further steps for the use of biofuels while continuing to improve the water content and implementation of the biodiesel mixture.
To support the B40 policy, state energy company PT Pertamina has readied two key refineries in Palembang on Sumatra Island and Papua. Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Yuliot Tanjung highlighted the importance of ensuring adequate raw materials and a robust supply chain, given Indonesia's vast and geographically diverse regions.
The government also plans to execute B50 in 2026 if the implementation of B40 is carried out properly this year. ■