Observer: The Use of B50 Biofuel as a Renewable Energy Transition 

JAKARTA - The Executive Director of the Center for Energy and Mining Law Studies (PUSHEP) Bisman Bhaktiar said that the mandatory B50 Biofuel which will start on July 1, 2026 as an effort to transition to renewable energy, considering that in the future fossil energy is certain to continue to decrease.

"The use of B50 can be one of the steps to increase the energy mix," said Bisman when contacted in Jakarta, Friday.

According to him, with the mandatory B50 Biofuel, it is expected to reduce the need for solar, because the fuel is mixed with 50 percent of vegetable materials.

He explained that B50 is also one of the government's efforts to increase the energy mix, which previously depended on fossil energy, slowly began to change to renewable energy.

For this reason, said the Lecturer of Business Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Muhammadiyah Prof. Dr. HAMKA (UHAMKA), the implementation of B50 Bio-solar is also an effort to transition to renewable energy.

"This is for the transition to energy because in the future it is certain that fossil fuels will continue to decrease, then it must be increased to renewable energy, and this is good," he said.

In addition, the implementation of B50 in terms of financial aspects will be able to significantly reduce the import of diesel fuel, especially solar, so it is good for the country's efficiency.

Previously, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia confirmed that Indonesia would stop importing diesel fuel this year, following the mandatory 50 percent biodiesel (B50) by July 2026.

"Tomorrow, July, we will inaugurate B50, which saves Indonesia's face from our dependence on imported solar. Starting this year, we will no longer import solar," said Bahlil in Jakarta, Thursday (25/6).

He explained that the total consumption of solar in Indonesia currently has reached 39 million kiloliters (kl), with mandatory 40 percent biodiesel (B40) which has been implemented by the government.

"Of the 39 million kiloliters, yesterday B40, it was 40 percent using FAME. FAME is from CPO with methanol mixed, so it becomes FAME. Then it is mixed into solar which is called B40," he said again.