Prabowo Confident Indonesia Can 'Transform' Plants into Fuel
President Prabowo Subianto has expressed confidence that Indonesia is capable of producing petroleum fuel from plants. This statement was made amid growing uncertainty in global energy supply and rising oil prices due to the conflict between Iran and Israel, involving the United States.
According to Prabowo, Indonesia possesses substantial natural resources to achieve energy self-sufficiency through the development of biofuels. For example, plants such as palm oil and cassava can be processed into alternative energy sources capable of reducing dependence on fuel imports.
Prabowo then reminded the public that the government has pursued national energy independence for many years. Indonesia has been blessed with resources that allow fuel requirements to be met domestically.
“We have a great gift from the Almighty, that we will be able to meet our fuel needs from within our country, not from imports, and even from our plants. From palm oil, from cassava,” Prabowo said during a virtual press conference on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.
Earlier, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia stated that the government is conducting various policy simulations to determine the most appropriate efficiency measures in response to global energy supply challenges. The efficiency measures in question relate to protecting national finances and optimising all available domestic energy.
“We will also assess how important it is and what steps we must take to implement efficiency,” Bahlil said at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry on Monday, 9 March 2026.
Bahlil disclosed that one measure under consideration by the government is accelerating the use of biofuels by increasing biodiesel and bioethanol blending levels.
The government plans to boost biodiesel application with higher blending up to B50 and promote E20 bioethanol for petrol-type fuel.
“Because if the price of fossil fuel can exceed US$100 per barrel, it will be cheaper if we do blending. For diesel, from B40 now to B50. Or we make it mandatory for petrol and that is cleaner,” he said.