Government Continues to Work on Energy Self-sufficiency, Bahlil Prepares 2 Avtur Industry and Factory Projects

Karawang - The government continues to strive to realize energy self-sufficiency for national independence. After launching B50 biodiesel, the government plans to build two industrial projects and avtur plants.

This was conveyed by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia in Kawarang, West Java, Thursday, July 9. Regarding the two new industries, Bahlil said that the mandatory B50 biodiesel brought new jobs for the government.

The program makes the need for methanol rise to around 2.5 million tons per year. According to Bahlil, B50 is a quick leap in the energy security agenda. However, he emphasized that there are challenges that must be prepared immediately, especially the supply of methanol in the country.

Methanol is an industrial chemical that is used in the biodiesel production process. In the B50 program, palm oil-based vegetable fuel or CPO is processed to be mixed in solar.

Bahlil said the government would encourage the development of the methanol industry so that these needs would not continue to depend on supplies from outside. There are two projects being prepared. The first project is in Bojonegoro, East Java, with gas as raw material.

The second project is in East Kalimantan and is part of coal beneficiation. According to Bahlil, the construction of the methanol industry is a follow-up step after B50 was launched. The government not only wants to reduce solar imports, but also prepare a supply chain of supporting materials in the country.

Even President Prabowo also asked the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to explore increasing the biodiesel mix to B60 through good studies and research. Regarding the avtur plant, Bahlil said the government together with Pertamina was drafting a roadmap for the development of avtur plants in the country.

According to Bahlil, the plan emerged because the optimization of refineries in East Kalimantan has the potential to make Indonesia have a surplus of solar. Additional production from the refinery is said to reach 5.6 million kiloliters.

He said the potential surplus was still being calculated. His estimate is in the range of 3 million to 4 million kiloliters. Bahlil said the next stage was to encourage the development of avtur plants.

Avtur is fuel for airplanes. According to him, the fuel has similarities with solar. Bahlil said he and Pertamina were making a roadmap for the project. He hopes that the construction of the avtur plant can begin by the end of 2026.