Prabowo Plans to Build 30 to 50 Ethanol Plants for Fuel Blending

“The officers said we can reach E20. It requires plants, and at the moment we only have one plant. I have decided that we will build at least 30 plants, and if necessary up to 50 plants.”

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto plans to increase the number of ethanol plants in Indonesia, building at least 30 to 50 plants in an effort to develop fuel with an ethanol blend.

While giving directives during a grand harvest event with the TNI in Malang, East Java, monitored online from Jakarta on Friday, President Prabowo stated that Indonesia is now capable of blending petrol with ethanol at up to 20 per cent, or E20.

“The officers said we can reach E20. It requires plants, and at the moment we only have one plant. I have decided that we will build at least 30 plants, and if necessary up to 50 plants,” said President Prabowo.

The President also touched on Indonesia’s ongoing efforts to achieve energy self-sufficiency. This was evident from the inauguration of the Abadi Masela LNG Project on Thursday (16 July) after 28 years of stagnation, and Indonesia becoming the first country in the world to produce B50, a palm oil-based biodiesel blend.

“We now produce diesel from palm oil. So, starting this July, we will no longer import diesel from abroad,” the President explained.

One matter highlighted by the President was the national electric motorcycle, which will be launched in the coming weeks.

He expressed hope that the national electric motorcycle would bring benefits to the wider community, particularly farmers, by ensuring more efficient means of transport.