Prabowo: Indonesia Leads Carbon Emission Reduction with B50 Biodiesel Launch
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto stated that Indonesia is now in the world’s spotlight after successfully implementing the mandatory B50 biodiesel policy, which he described as leading the effort to reduce carbon emissions, whilst launching the programme in Karawang, West Java.
“We are leading in reducing carbon emissions. We are leading; they know we have the B50 programme,” Prabowo said, as quoted from an official release by the Presidential Secretariat in Jakarta on Thursday.
The President admitted he was surprised to find that several international media outlets and observers were discussing Indonesia’s success in implementing the energy policy without causing price upheaval for ordinary people.
“World figures are talking about Indonesia. How did Indonesia succeed? Why is Indonesia not panicking? Why hasn’t Indonesia raised fuel prices for the common people?” he said.
He noted that the emission reductions from the B50 implementation have reached tens of millions of tonnes, as early proof of Indonesia’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emission reductions.
According to information from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the implementation of B50 in 2026 is estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 44.46 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. That figure represents an increase from the foreign exchange savings and emission reductions achieved under the B40 programme in 2025.
Prabowo also revealed plans to build solar power plants with a total capacity of 100 gigawatts over the next two years, with state utility PLN commencing construction of 17 gigawatts in 2026.
The President believes this ambitious plan will further increase the world’s attention on Indonesia, although he also expects scepticism from certain parties.
“We will be mocked. I am telling you, be prepared. We will be vilified. Those clever experts will say, how is that possible,” Prabowo said.
With the launch of the B50 mandate, Indonesia is recorded as the first country in the world to implement a 50 per cent biodiesel blending requirement in diesel fuel, continuing the series of B30, B35, and B40 biodiesel programmes that have been running for more than a decade.
In addition to reducing carbon emissions, the B50 mandate is projected to save the state approximately Rp170 trillion in foreign exchange in 2026, increase the added value of crude palm oil (CPO), and absorb around 2.1 million workers.