Prabowo urges universities to prepare human resources and research for B60 and ethanol
President Prabowo Subianto has asked higher education institutions to prepare human resources and research to support the development of B50, B60 biodiesel, and ethanol as part of efforts to strengthen national energy security.
Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto said the directive was delivered by the President during a limited meeting with cabinet ministers at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday.
“We were also asked to ensure our human resources and our research for B50, B60, and beyond fully support the initiative, including ethanol, because energy resilience is very crucial,” Brian said after the meeting.
In addition to discussing energy security, the limited meeting also covered the development of the Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperatives and several other issues.
“We discussed cooperatives at length and other matters, such as how universities must be encouraged and prepared to deal with potential global turmoil,” Brian said.
On the same occasion, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono said the government is anticipating the impact of a prolonged war in the Middle East on national energy security, including through energy diversification and the implementation of B50 biodiesel.
“Essentially, we discussed and made predictions about global developments, including anticipating if the war in the Middle East drags on, affecting world energy supplies and oil prices,” AHY said after the meeting.
He noted that the government is evaluating and forecasting global developments, including preparing for the possibility that the Middle East conflict could last longer and impact energy supplies and oil prices.
Beyond the energy sector, the government also hopes that global developments will not affect the focus on food sector development.
“And of course, we hope it will not significantly affect our development focus in the food sector,” he said.
AHY added that his ministry will support various government priorities through infrastructure development and strengthening connectivity.