Prabowo states Indonesia can produce fuel from maize and sugarcane
Jakarta — President Prabowo Subianto has stated that Indonesia possesses various alternative energy sources amid the global crisis, including the capacity to produce petroleum fuel from maize and sugarcane.
“We have many alternatives. We are confident that we can address this problem. Many countries are in far worse conditions than us. We have abundant palm oil. We will have sufficient cassava. We can obtain fuel from maize, from sugarcane,” Prabowo said whilst addressing a ceremony marking the first anniversary of Danantara in Jakarta on Wednesday.
According to Prabowo, this potential represents one of Indonesia’s strengths in facing an uncertain and crisis-ridden global situation.
The president stated that the crisis could serve as a momentum to accelerate efforts in strengthening national resilience, including in the energy sector.
Prabowo outlined that Indonesia possesses numerous natural resources that can be utilised to support energy independence. Beyond maize and sugarcane as energy feedstock, Indonesia also has large palm oil reserves and sufficient cassava potential.
The head of state also referenced Indonesia’s geothermal energy potential. According to him, Indonesia’s geothermal reserves rank among the world’s largest but remain underutilised.
“We have very significant geothermal resources, if I am not mistaken the second-largest reserves in the world, which have not been fully exploited,” he said.
Additionally, Prabowo has ordered the development of renewable energy through solar power. He is targeting the construction of solar power plants with capacity reaching 100 gigawatts in the shortest possible timeframe.
“In the shortest possible time we will build 100 gigawatts. This is already my directive, this is already my decision, and we will demonstrate to the world that we are faster and more effective in this regard,” he emphasised.
In his statement, Prabowo also assessed that the global crisis could serve as a driver for Indonesia to accelerate various planned programmes, including food self-sufficiency and energy self-sufficiency initiatives.
“I am confident and believe that the Indonesian nation has been blessed with extraordinary natural wealth and we are capable of overcoming this crisis. We will emerge from this crisis stronger. In my view, this crisis is a blessing in disguise. It is indeed full of difficulties, indeed full of challenges. But it compels us to accelerate our good intentions,” Prabowo said.
“We already have a food self-sufficiency plan, and thank God parts of it have been achieved. We already have energy self-sufficiency aspirations which according to our plan we are confident we will achieve within four more years,” he added.