Prabowo Launches B50 Biodiesel, Indonesia Aims to Halt Diesel Imports for Vehicles
President Prabowo Subianto officially attended the launch of the B50 biodiesel programme at the KM 57 Rest Area of the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road in Karawang Regency, West Java, on Thursday, 9 July 2026. The launch represents a new milestone in the national energy transition policy through the implementation of biodiesel fuel with a 50 per cent biofuel blend in diesel oil.
Prabowo arrived at the location at around 14:20 WIB wearing a cream safari shirt. Upon arrival, the Head of State first participated in a gallery walk to observe the implementation of the B50 programme directly and receive a briefing on its benefits and readiness for application.
During the session, the Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Eniya Listiani Dewi, explained that the implementation of B50 is expected to meet national diesel demand without further reliance on imports. “We currently know the demand is 18 to 20 million kilolitres, so there is no need to import diesel anymore,” Eniya stated while providing an explanation to President Prabowo.
The launch of B50 biodiesel was also attended by several ministers of the Merah Putih Cabinet, heads of agencies, and leaders of state-owned enterprises. Attendees included Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas Maruarar Sirait, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Defence Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, and Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono. Also present were West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi, East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Head of BIN Herindra, Danantara CEO Rosan Roeslani, President Director of Pertamina Simon Aloysius Mantiri, and Cabinet Secretary Lieutenant Colonel Teddy Indra Wijaya.
The implementation of B50 biodiesel has been regulated through Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation Number 4 of 2025 concerning the Business and Utilisation of Biofuels. Furthermore, the policy is reinforced by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Decree Number 257.K/EK.01/MEM.E/2026, which mandates a 50 per cent biodiesel blend in all types of diesel fuel. Under this policy, all biofuel business entities, fuel oil business entities, and distributing business entities are required to implement quality standards in accordance with the provisions set by the government.