Prabowo Pushes Ethanol to Replace Pertalite and Pertamax

JAKARTA - Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that President Prabowo Subianto has requested the ongoing development of ethanol, with the goal of replacing petrol such as Pertalite and Pertamax.

The government is projecting the implementation of a 20 per cent ethanol blend, or E20, in petrol. This programme is designed to run consistently in the long term.

“The President’s directive must not be interrupted. If we stay consistent for 10 years, we can achieve self-sufficiency (without imports),” Amran said during a press conference at the Ministry of Agriculture office in Jakarta on Monday (30/3/2026).

Amran noted that vehicle technology already supports it. Flexible Fuel Vehicle engines can use various fuel blends.

“That means flexi can handle 20 per cent (ethanol), 70 per cent ethanol, and so on up to 100 per cent. But it can also do 20 per cent,” Amran said.

The supply of raw materials is deemed sufficient. Ethanol can be produced from molasses or sugarcane bagasse, which has previously been exported.

“This can be turned into and can produce 300,000 (ethanol),” Amran stated.

The Ministry of Agriculture is preparing supporting policies in the near future. The programme involves state-owned enterprises in the food sector.

Companies such as PT Perkebunan Nusantara manage sugarcane lands that serve as raw material sources.

“Because once food is secured, we shift to energy. And this is a bold move by the President, taking strategic and fundamental steps for the red and white (Indonesia),” he added.

National petrol production in 2025 reached 14.27 million kilolitres. Consumption stood at 37.3 million kilolitres.

This gap means Indonesia still imports around 23.03 million kilolitres.

“We will promote what is called ethanol, E20 by 2028,” said Bahlil at the Indonesia Economic Outlook 2026 event in Jakarta on Friday (13/3/2026).