Bahlil Says Solar Import Setop for New Industries Applies Mid-2026

BALIKPAPAN - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia said that although he had stopped importing solar, the government had not been able to completely stop importing solar for industry or CN 51.

Meanwhile, imports for CN 48 solar have begun at the beginning of this year.

"Starting this year I will no longer issue import permits for solar. If there are any that come in this month or next month, it is the remaining imports of 2025," said Bahlil, quoted on Tuesday, January 13.

Bahlil emphasized that the increase in the capacity of the Balikpapan refinery opened up opportunities for Indonesia to stop importing fuel oil (BBM) because national needs could be met from domestic production.

Still, said Bahlil, the balance between the needs and supply of national solar.

Indonesia's solar needs are recorded at 39.8 million kiloliters per year.

Of this amount, the B40 program contributes to the supply of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) of 15.9 million kiloliters (KL) per year, leaving a pure solar (B0) requirement of 23.9 million kl per year.

With national production currently reaching 26.5 million kl per year, the government targets the cessation of CN 51 solar imports to begin in mid-2026.

"For CN 48, we have completely stopped imports. CN 51 in the second semester (2026) we will not import again. This second semester," said Bahlil.

Regarding gasoline products, Bahlil said that national needs reached around 38.5 million KL per year.

The needs consist of RON 90 gasoline of 28.9 million KL per year, RON 92 of 8.7 million KL per year, and RON 95 and RON 98 of around 650,000 KL per year.

He explained, through the optimization of the Balikpapan Refinery RDMP, the production of gasoline with octane value above RON 90 can be increased to 5.5 million kl per year.

With this additional capacity, imports of gasoline RON 92, RON 95, and RON 98 can be suppressed to around 3.6 million KL per year.

"In the future, through the implementation of E10, we can save imports of up to 3.9 million kl per year, and through the development of refineries, we can stop importing RON 92, 95, and 98 gasoline and reduce imports of RON 90 gasoline," said Bahlil.

The government emphasized that meeting the domestic fuel needs is part of the constitutional mandate.

Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution states that branches of production concerning the livelihood of the masses must be controlled by the state.

Therefore, for Bahlil, the strengthening and development of refineries is seen as a manifestation of the state's responsibility in ensuring the availability of energy supply for the community.

To achieve energy independence, the government has prepared three main steps. First, increase refinery capacity, as is done through the development of the Balikpapan Refinery.

Second, encourage energy diversification by optimizing the biodiesel program, including B40, to reduce dependence on fossil-based solar. Third, maintain a balance between the supply and demand for national energy so that fuel availability is maintained.

Balikpapan RDMP itself has major facilities, namely Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC).

With the CDU as the heart of the Balikpapan refinery, the refinery capacity, which was originally 260,000 barrels, can now be increased to 360,000 barrels of oil per day.

Meanwhile, the RFCC unit is a crude oil processor that is able to transform residues into high-value products.

"The (RDMP) is now of very good quality, it is on par with Euro 5, and this is leading to net zero emissions," said Bahlil.