Airlangga says B50 programme could save Rp177 trillion in foreign exchange
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has said that the implementation of the B50 biodiesel programme could save Indonesia as much as Rp177 trillion in foreign exchange.
In addition, the programme could reduce carbon emissions by 44 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent.
“Yesterday, President Prabowo Subianto launched what is known as B50, and B50 shows that Indonesia can have its own strength, because with B50 we no longer import diesel, we save Rp177 trillion in foreign exchange, and we contribute to net zero emissions with 44 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent,” Airlangga said at the KADIN Diplomatic Economic Breakfast event in Jakarta on Friday.
Airlangga said the implementation of B50 means Indonesia no longer depends on imported diesel.
Indonesia has also become the first country in the world to implement a B50 biodiesel programme.
“B50 is the first in the world. No other country has implemented this B50 programme,” he said.
Furthermore, the Coordinating Minister explained that the B50 biodiesel programme is indeed one of the government’s strategies to strengthen energy resilience amid rising global uncertainty.
This is because strengthening the foundations of the national economy is currently needed in the face of various challenges.
“So, amid uncertainty, particularly relating to unresolved geopolitical conflicts, both in Ukraine and in the Strait of Hormuz, coupled with uncertainty from disruptive technology such as artificial intelligence, Indonesia must strengthen its economic foundations, especially with regard to supply chains,” Airlangga said.
He said President Prabowo Subianto had directed that strengthening food sovereignty and energy sovereignty be prioritised as a response to global uncertainty.
Beyond developing B50 biodiesel, the government has also begun implementing a 100-gigawatt solar power programme as part of efforts to accelerate the national energy transition.
Airlangga added that the battery downstreaming ecosystem for electric vehicles in Indonesia is also ready to be developed, not only to meet the needs of the automotive industry but also to support energy storage systems.
“The President is driving the launch of the 100-gigawatt solar-based programme, and the downstreaming of the electric battery ecosystem is ready, not only for automotive but for battery storage systems as well,” said Coordinating Minister Airlangga.