Implementation of B40 Press Solar Imports 5 Million Tons

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia revealed that the implementation of the B40 policy, which is a 40 percent palm oil and 60 percent solar mixed Biofuel (BBN), effectively reduces the dependence on imported solar type fuel oil (BBM).

"I am grateful that our solar imports in 2024 are still around 8.3 million tons. Then our imports in 2025 will decrease to around 5 million tons," said Bahlil at a press conference on the achievements of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in 2025, Thursday, January 8.

Bahlil said, based on data from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the utilization of domestic biodiesel from January to December 2025 was recorded at 14.2 million kiloliters (KL), or equivalent to 105.2 percent of the target of the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) which was set at 13.5 million KL in 2025.

"This success has a direct impact on the very sharp decline in the volume of solar imports compared to previous years," he said.

This achievement, said Bahlil, is a strong foundation for the government to announce an ambitious target, namely to completely stop importing Solar by 2026.

This target is supported by the plan to test B50 biodiesel which is scheduled to be completed in the first semester of 2026, to then be implemented in the second semester if the evaluation results show technical and economic success.

In terms of foreign exchange savings, the biodiesel policy in 2025 managed to save Rp130.21 trillion and reduce emissions by 38.88 million tons of CO2 equivalent. As well as increasing the value added of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) into biodiesel by Rp20.43 trillion.

The optimism of free import of Solar in 2026, he continued, will be driven by the operation of the Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP) project in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, which will massively increase the capacity of domestic Solar production.

"If we use B50 and RDMP in East Kalimantan is inaugurated in the near future, then we will not import solar anymore in 2026," he concluded.

However, the government still provides special notes for the high-quality Solar CN51 for heavy equipment industry needs, where the import option is still limited because the domestic production capacity is still in the development stage.