Prabowo hopes Indonesia can produce petrol from plants within four years

President Prabowo Subianto hopes Indonesia will be able to produce petrol from plant-based raw materials within the next three to four years as part of strengthening national energy independence. “Our professors are currently developing petrol from oil palm, ethanol from cassava, maize, and sorghum. So I hope that in three to four years we can also produce petrol from plants,” President Prabowo Subianto said during the peak celebration of the 79th National Cooperatives Day at Indonesia Arena, Jakarta, Sunday. According to the President, the development of agricultural commodity-based fuels is expected to improve the welfare of farmers, including cassava, maize, and other commodity farmers, while simultaneously boosting growth in the agricultural sector. “It means cassava farmers will live prosperously, maize farmers will live prosperously, farmers across Indonesia will do their best for the nation and for their own families,” he said. He stated that the utilisation of oil palm-based fuel has allowed Indonesia to stop importing diesel starting this month. “Just a few days ago we launched B50, diesel that is 50 percent from oil palm. Oil palm farmers are in Indonesia, palm oil is in Indonesia. Starting this month, we no longer import diesel from abroad,” he said. Additionally, the President said the government has recorded food self-sufficiency achievements in the first year of his administration, meaning Indonesia no longer imports a number of food commodities and has begun exporting. On the occasion, Prabowo reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the nation and defending the interests of the Indonesian people. “We are on the right path, defending the people is an honour for the Indonesian nation. Defending the people is an honour for every patriot. I will not hesitate, I will continue to defend and strengthen the Indonesian nation and the Indonesian people,” Prabowo said.