Prabowo Launches B50 Biodiesel Implementation, Heralding Energy Independence

President Prabowo Subianto has launched the implementation of the mandatory 50 percent biodiesel blend, known as B50. The Head of State said Indonesia is the first country to implement B50 biodiesel nationally. The B50 programme mandates a 50 percent blend of palm oil-based biodiesel into diesel fuel. “With the launch of this programme, Indonesia officially becomes the first country in the world to implement B50 biodiesel,” Prabowo said at the KM 57 Rest Area of the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road in Karawang Regency, West Java, on Thursday, 9 July 2026. He stated that B50 biodiesel is not merely a technological achievement, but proof that Indonesia can utilise its own natural wealth for the benefit of the people. For Prabowo, the implementation of B50 is an important milestone towards national energy self-sufficiency. He argued that the survival of a nation is determined by its ability to produce its own food, energy, and water sources.

In the same address, President Prabowo asserted that wealthy groups must be willing to pay high prices for fuel. Prabowo claimed that the world praises Indonesia for not raising fuel prices for the poor. He stressed that subsidised fuel prices must be held down, unlike non-subsidised fuel used by the affluent. “I was surprised myself, world figures are talking about Indonesia, how Indonesia has managed not to panic, not to raise fuel prices for the poor. For the rich, it’s not a problem,” Prabowo said. He then mentioned several business figures present at the event, including Adaro Energy CEO Garibaldi ‘Boy’ Thohir, PT Indika Energy CEO Arsjad Rasjid, and Danantara Investment Management Agency CEO Rosan Perkasa Roeslani. “Boy, you don’t have a problem, Boy. Who else doesn’t have a problem? Ha ha. Arsjad, if you dare to drive a Lamborghini, you have to pay a high price, right, ha ha. Rosan, you don’t have a problem either, right, Rosan,” Prabowo joked, drawing laughter from the attendees.

Prabowo also revealed that an Indonesian scientific expedition team has discovered large gold and mineral reserves in the mountains of Papua. The team involved the National Research and Innovation Agency, several universities, and was supported by the Indonesian National Armed Forces. Prabowo said the findings were reported to him just hours before the B50 launch event. “I just received a report, just a few hours ago, that our scientific expedition, which has only been running for two or three weeks in the mountains of Papua, a team from BRIN with several universities, assisted by the TNI, discovered very large gold and mineral reserves,” Prabowo said. However, the Head of State did not detail the location of the discovery, the estimated reserves, or the types of minerals other than gold found in the expedition. Prabowo only claimed that with this discovery, Indonesia has a bright economic future.

Prabowo also claimed that many countries are envious of and hate Indonesia. In his speech, Prabowo said the world is full of competition. According to Prabowo, the Indonesian people never hate others. But in reality, he said, many parties are jealous and envious. “They want to mess with us, badmouth us,” said the Gerindra Party Chairman. Prabowo said this attitude is visible, among other places, on social media. He alluded to narratives that have circulated online, such as the hashtag Indonesia Gelap (Dark Indonesia) and claims that Indonesia would be chaotic or collapse. He noted that these narratives are also used by Indonesians themselves. Therefore, Prabowo said, the public must be vigilant of this situation. “Imagine, they hope for collapse, fellow Indonesians hope for collapse,” he said.

Prabowo also denied accusations from those who claim the government is lying to the people. In his speech, Prabowo initially stated that his government had achieved food self-sufficiency within a year. However, he said many people underestimate this achievement. “In fact, many people who consider themselves smart, mock, block, and accuse us, the government, of lying to the people, that we have not achieved food self-sufficiency,” he said. The former Defence Minister under President Joko Widodo then dismissed the accusations. “It is a sin for a government that lies to its people, it is a sin for a leader who lies to his people, it is a betrayal for a leader who is not loyal to the interests of the nation above all else,” he said.