Etanol Fuel Is Said To Be Not Good, Bahlil Embedded: Corn, Tebu, And Cassava Basic Materials, Functioning As Well As Creating Jobs

JAKARTA - The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has opened his voice regarding the assumption that ethanol is not appropriate to be used as a mixture of fuel. This also responds to several private gas stations that are reluctant to buy base fuel from Pertamina because it contains ethanol.

Bahlil said, ethanol is a mixture of basic materials sourced from corn, sugar cane and cassava. In addition, the use of ethanol in fuel mixtures not only functions to maintain energy but also creates jobs.

"So it is very untrue if there are discussions, discussions by various groups that ethanol is not good," Bahlil said at Sarasehan 100 ECONOM Indonesia, Tuesday, October 28.

Moreover, he said, several countries such as India to America have mixed with ethanol levels of up to 85 percent.

Bahlil detailed that the use of ethanol as a mixture in fuel in India has reached 30 percent or E30, while Thailand has used E20, the United States with a mixture of E85.

"We shouldn't always think like there is something like that," he explained.

Bahlil also poked at private fuel operators who had refused to buy base fuel from Pertamina Patra Niaga. According to him, it is better if private gas station business entities do not impose their will.

"Don't impose your will, you know. Moreover, this gas station. Don't think we don't understand this. Like Papuans say you just want to write down, you have read," said Bahlil.