Prabowo Reveals Indonesia Imports Over IDR 500 Trillion in Fuel Annually

President Prabowo Subianto has revealed the government’s major agenda to reduce Indonesia’s dependence on energy from abroad.

One of the strategies being prepared is to accelerate the use of electric vehicles and various electric-powered equipment while simultaneously boosting renewable energy generation.

Prabowo said the electrification of transport and production tools can be an important part of efforts to strengthen national energy security. Electric motorcycles, cars, buses and even tractors are being encouraged for wider use as the main energy source.

“So, ladies and gentlemen, with electric motorcycles and cars, with electric buses, with electric tractors, and with as many of our tools as possible using electricity as the main energy source, we will be safer, we will be more prosperous,” Prabowo said in his remarks at the National Electric Motorcycle Launch event in Cikarang, Bekasi Regency, West Java, on Thursday, 13 August 2026.

Prabowo highlighted the large amount of foreign exchange Indonesia must spend to meet its fuel oil (BBM) needs. According to him, this expenditure reaches US$30 billion, or around Rp535 trillion, every year.

“We send US dollars for our fuel, sometimes exceeding US$30 billion. Between US$28 and US$30 billion, US$30 billion every year,” he said.

For this reason, the government is determined to reduce this dependence through the development of domestic energy and the use of fuels sourced from within the country.

“We are determined to reduce this. With B50 diesel we have already reduced it, and in fact we should no longer import diesel from abroad,” Prabowo said.

The B50 policy, which involves blending biodiesel with 50 percent palm-based biofuel content, was described by Prabowo as one of the instruments for reducing dependence on imported diesel.

In addition to diesel, the government is also preparing measures to reduce dependence on other energy sources. Prabowo said LPG will be directed to be replaced with CNG.

“But we still depend on some energy from outside; we will soon replace LPG with CNG, and we will also build 100 Gigawatts of solar power. And this must be implemented within 4 years,” he stressed.

The target is considered aggressive. Prabowo said the government is even aiming to build 30 GW of solar power plants this year alone.