Prabowo: B50 Mandatory Programme Saves State Rp170 Trillion in Foreign Exchange

President Prabowo Subianto has stated that the implementation of the mandatory B50 biodiesel programme will have a significant impact on strengthening the national economy by saving foreign exchange of up to Rp170 trillion, or approximately US$10 billion, each year. He emphasised that these savings are the result of hard work by various parties in promoting the utilisation of energy based on the nation’s natural resources. “We can now save foreign exchange of Rp170 trillion, US$10 billion we save,” Prabowo said during the launch of the Mandatory Biodiesel B50 in Karawang Regency, West Java, on Thursday. He noted that the savings from the B50 mandatory programme represent a strategic step to bolster energy security and reduce dependence on imported diesel fuel. The President added that the government is also pursuing efficiency measures in other sectors to strengthen state finances. Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia explained that the savings from the B50 mandate mark an increase from the previous B40 policy, which saved approximately Rp133.3 trillion in foreign exchange. Beyond foreign exchange savings, the B50 programme is projected to increase the added value of crude palm oil from Rp20.92 trillion to around Rp23.49 trillion, absorb approximately 2.1 million workers, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 44.46 million tonnes of CO2 by 2026.