Analyst confident B50 can strengthen Indonesia's energy security

Energy analyst and Secretary General of the Indonesian Petroleum Engineers Association (IATMI) Hadi Ismoyo said the launch of the B50 biodiesel programme is part of efforts to strengthen national energy security. “The presence of B50 is very important in breaking the chain of diesel imports and is an initial initiation of the energy transition from fossil fuels towards renewable energy that is more environmentally friendly and based on local resources,” Hadi said in a statement received in Jakarta on Saturday. Thus, the presence of B50 is expected to reduce dependence on imported fuel oil while accelerating the transition towards more environmentally friendly energy. Hadi assessed that the utilisation of B50 not only provides benefits in terms of energy security. More than that, he said, the presence of this programme supports the sustainability agenda. “The output of biodiesel use results in a CO2 footprint that is around 50 to 60 percent lower compared to fossil fuels. In some developed countries, emission reductions can even reach around 80 percent under certain conditions,” he said. Nevertheless, Hadi assessed that the successful implementation of B50 requires strong governance support from upstream to downstream. One of the main challenges is ensuring that palm oil plantation development is carried out sustainably so as not to trigger excessive deforestation.