Far Surpassing B40, Bahlil Reveals B50 Advantages After 6-Month Trial

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia revealed that a six-month trial of B50 biodiesel, conducted before its public launch, showed that its performance and mechanical impact successfully surpassed the previous formula. He explained that the cleaner combustion characteristics of B50 can extend the service life of filter components found in modern diesel engines. Consequently, whereas vehicles using B40 typically require filter replacements after 10,000 to 20,000 kilometres, this is not the case with B50 usage. “For B50, there are vehicles that have travelled 40,000 km without needing a filter change,” Bahlil said at the inauguration of the B50 Mandate in Karawang, West Java, on Thursday. Bahlil expressed confidence that the advantages of B50, which include high maintenance efficiency and the elimination of import burdens, will strengthen national energy sovereignty. He added that it will also have a positive impact on automotive industry players and transportation consumers in Indonesia. The six-month testing period proved that the fuel, with its higher bio-content blend, is safe for various transportation sectors, including passenger vehicles, commercial transport, and even mass transit and maritime modes. “So, trains, cars, even Mercedes were tested, as well as buses. Not just Toyota, Mercedes too. So, we tested everything from Asia to Europe,” he said. “Ships were all tested and, thank God, the results showed that the quality of B50 is far better than B40.” The legal basis for the B50 Biodiesel Mandate Programme is Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation Number 4 of 2025 concerning the Business and Utilisation of Biofuels, and Ministerial Decree Number 257.K/EK.01/MEM.E/2026 concerning the Obligation to Blend Biodiesel-Type Biofuel into Diesel Fuel Oil at 50 Percent. The programme requires a 50 percent biodiesel blend in diesel fuel. In its implementation, biofuel business entities, fuel oil business entities, and distributing business entities must apply the standards and quality according to the established specifications.