Prabowo Launches B50 Biodiesel, Eyes B100 Despite Ministerial Advice

President Prabowo Subianto officially launched the B50 biodiesel programme in Karawang, West Java, on Thursday, 9 July 2026. The fuel, a blend of 50 per cent palm oil-based Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) and 50 per cent diesel, marks an increase from the B40 mandate implemented since early 2025. With this launch, Indonesia becomes the first country in the world to enforce a mandatory B50 biodiesel programme. “This is not merely a technological achievement; it is proof that Indonesia can utilise its own natural wealth for the benefit of its people,” President Prabowo said during the ceremony at a Pertamina petrol station at KM 57 of the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road. He described the milestone as a significant step towards energy self-sufficiency, stressing that a nation’s survival depends on its ability to produce its own food, energy, and water. Prabowo recounted that even before his inauguration, he had instructed his core team to pursue energy and food self-sufficiency, aiming to eliminate imports of fuel and food. He disclosed that he had initially pushed for a B100 biodiesel mandate, but his ministers convinced him that a B50 blend was sufficient to end the need for diesel imports. Despite this achievement, the President urged Pertamina and academics not to halt innovation, challenging them to develop a B60 blend. He also announced that he would award the Bintang Kehormatan state honour to ministers and officials, including the Energy Minister, the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, and Pertamina’s CEO, for their contributions to the B50 programme.