DPR: B50 Launch a Milestone for Energy Sovereignty and National Economic Transformation
A member of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission XII has praised the national launch of the B50 biodiesel programme by President Prabowo Subianto as a strategic step in strengthening Indonesia’s energy sovereignty. The policy is not only part of efforts to reduce dependence on imported fuel but also marks a transformation of the national economic structure, increasingly relying on the utilisation of domestic resources to create greater added value. The B50 programme was first implemented on 1 July 2026 and officially launched nationally on 9 July 2026.
For years, national energy security has been heavily influenced by fluctuations in world oil prices and high dependence on foreign energy supplies. Therefore, the utilisation of palm oil-based biodiesel through B50 is considered a crucial step to strengthen Indonesia’s position in facing global energy geopolitical dynamics.
‘I appreciate President Prabowo Subianto and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia for the national launch of B50. This is not just a policy of blending biodiesel with diesel, but a strategic state instrument to build energy sovereignty, strengthen economic resilience, and increase the added value of Indonesia’s natural resources,’ he said in a written statement on Thursday, 9 July 2026.
He assessed that the mandatory B50 policy demonstrates the state’s increasingly strong role in creating a market for energy based on domestic resources. This policy certainty will send a positive signal to the business world to accelerate investment in the bioenergy sector, ranging from processing industries, technology development, and distribution infrastructure, to strengthening the national supply chain.
He also believes the B50 programme will provide significant benefits for oil palm farmers and producing regions such as Jambi, Riau, South Sumatra, North Sumatra, Lampung, West Kalimantan, and Central Kalimantan. The increased demand for crude palm oil (CPO) for biodiesel is expected to strengthen domestic demand, maintain palm oil price stability, and encourage economic growth in the regions.
‘Policy certainty is a crucial factor for the business world. With the B50 mandate, the government provides a clear direction for investors to develop the national bioenergy industry. The impact is not only on the energy sector but also drives investment, manufacturing industry growth, job creation, and economic activity in various regions,’ he stressed.