Indonesia to Trial New E20 Petrol, Targeting 2028 Rollout
Jakarta - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) is preparing a road test plan for E20 petrol, a fuel blend containing 20% bioethanol, as part of efforts to meet the implementation target for the mandatory bioethanol mix in Indonesia.
Director General of New, Renewable Energy, and Energy Conservation (Dirjen EBTKE) Eniya Listiani Dewi stated that her team has communicated with the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo) to commence the testing. The aim is to immediately test the fuel on vehicle engines to assess the readiness of the national automotive industry infrastructure.
“I am asking the association to jointly conduct a direct road test for E20. I have requested the Gaikindo team to do this. We promise to carry out the E20 road test as soon as possible,” she said when met at the ESDM Ministry office in Jakarta, quoted on Thursday (18/6/2026).
Before reaching the E20 stage targeted for 2028, the government is focusing on completing the implementation of a 5% ethanol blend (E5). Eniya stated that the E5 mandate must be enforced before December this year to pursue the target of increasing the blend to 10% (E10) by early 2027.
“Essentially, our target is that before December, the 5% mandate must be in place, because in January we are pursuing the 10% target. Then in January 2028, the 20% target,” she explained.
Currently, the implementation of E5 is only awaiting the issuance of a Ministerial Decree regarding the allocation of the bioethanol fuel volume. The government has also completed several supporting regulations, including excise exemption through a Minister of Finance Regulation (PMK) and the simplification of business permits for fuel blending.
“For E5, we are just waiting for the allocation decree. The PMK regarding the exemption has also been issued. Furthermore, there is a ministerial regulation on norms, standards, procedures, and criteria (NSPK) so that permits will only require an IUN, with a new KBLI,” she added.
The ministry is also overseeing infrastructure readiness at PT Pertamina (Persero), particularly the cleaning reactor process to ensure smooth E5 distribution. On the technical side, Lemigas is conducting tests on ethanol blending with various petrol octane numbers to find the most suitable specification for the market.
“The decision on E5 rests with the Minister. I am currently waiting for Pertamina, as there are tests being conducted there that have reportedly been submitted to Lemigas. Before the mandate is enforced, we will certainly discuss the ethanol specification first,” she said.
Eniya expressed confidence that modern vehicle engine technology is actually capable of consuming petrol with ethanol blends of up to 30%. However, the government will conduct measured trials to ensure the energy transition in the transportation sector provides optimal efficiency benefits for the public.
“I am confident that current car products can handle up to 30%. It is documented in journals. I believe 30% is not a problem, but the question is in which year we can implement E10, in which year E20, and in which year E30. That is why I asked the association to conduct a road test immediately,” she concluded.