Prabowo Says RI Spends up to 30 Billion US Dollars for Fuel, Electric Motorcycles as a Way Out

CIKARANG - President Prabowo Subianto wants to reduce Indonesia's dependence on imported energy by accelerating the use of electric vehicles. He said Indonesia spends 28 billion to 30 billion US dollars every year to buy fuel oil from abroad.

Prabowo conveyed this when launching the National Electric Motor or Molinas in Cikarang, Bekasi, West Java, Thursday, August 13.

"We send US dollars for our fuel, sometimes exceeding 30 billion US dollars. Between 28 to 30 billion dollars every year," said Prabowo.

According to the President, dependence on imported energy makes Indonesia affected when there is war, conflict, or trade wars in other countries.

"We are too big to depend on outsiders. There is a war in a distant place, our people can be victims. We have no interests," he said.

Therefore, Prabowo wants the use of electricity to be expanded not only for motorcycles, but also for cars, buses, and tractors.

"With electric motorcycles and cars, with electric buses, with electric tractors, with as many tools as possible, we use electricity as the main energy, we will be safer, we will be more prosperous," he said.

Prabowo also said that the cost of using electric motorcycles is lower than that of gasoline-powered motorcycles.

According to the calculations he received, the daily cost savings reached at least 50 percent and could reach 70 percent.

"We just calculated using electric motorcycles compared to gasoline motorcycles, the savings are at least 50 percent of your daily expenses, even up to 70 percent at the end," said Prabowo.

He said the use of B50 biodiesel has also helped reduce the need for diesel imports. However, Indonesia still depends on several types of energy from abroad.