Central Java Ready to Develop B50 Usage, Starting with Agricultural Equipment
The Central Java Provincial Government fully supports the mandatory implementation of B50 biodiesel fuel, officially launched by President Prabowo Subianto at the KM 57 rest area of the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road in Karawang Regency, West Java, on Thursday (9/7).
B50 is a fuel consisting of 50 per cent palm oil-based biodiesel (FAME/Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) and 50 per cent fossil diesel. B50 is a continuation of the government’s mandatory biodiesel programme, which previously implemented B20, B30 and B40. The figure 50 indicates the percentage of biodiesel content in the blend.
Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi said that the use of B50 in his region is currently focused on agricultural machinery, with hopes of extending it to other equipment, including land and sea transport.
“At present, PT Kubota in Semarang is already using agricultural machinery running on B50. Going forward, it will not be limited to agricultural equipment but could also apply to ships or vehicles using biodiesel,” said Luthfi on the sidelines of attending the launch event.
According to him, the successful implementation of B50 in the transport sector, industry and agricultural machinery will strengthen regional competitiveness whilst supporting national energy security. It also strongly supports a more environmentally friendly energy transition.
For Central Java, the development of bioenergy complements various energy transition programmes already under way, such as the development of solar power plants, solar-powered water pumps and Energy Independent Villages, among others.
Meanwhile, President Prabowo Subianto said that with the launch of the programme, Indonesia has officially become the first country in the world to implement a B50 mandate. This achievement is not merely about technological progress, but also about harnessing the nation’s own natural resources for the benefit of the people.
“I continue to push and demand that the team work towards energy independence. B40 alone was not enough; at the time I even urged a move towards B100, but they said B50 would already be sufficient to stop us importing diesel from abroad,” he said.
Prabowo said the success of the B50 mandate programme could not be separated from the role of many parties, including the relevant ministries, oil palm farmers and businesses. The achievement, he added, was also indebted to the work of previous presidents.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia explained that the B50 mandate could save up to Rp170 trillion in foreign exchange, enabling Indonesia to stop importing diesel from abroad. Another benefit is providing market certainty for oil palm farmers through increased absorption of CPO.