After Solar, Bahlil Prepares Avtur Factory so that Imports Can Be Pressed

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia (IST)

KARAWANG - The government has begun preparing a new step after the launch of B50 biodiesel. Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said the government together with Pertamina was drafting a roadmap for the development of avtur plants in the country.

Bahlil conveyed this after the launch of B50 by President Prabowo Subianto in Karawang, West Java, Thursday, July 9.

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.

"In the future, it may become a surplus. Because with the optimization of our refinery in East Kalimantan, it produces 5.6 million kiloliters," said Bahlil.

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.

"Now this is the next stage, we will encourage the construction of avtur because the raw materials for avtur are almost the same as solar as well," he said.

Bahlil said that 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.

"I am making a roadmap with Pertamina again. In fact, God willing, by the end of 2026, we can start building this plant for avtur in Indonesia," said Bahlil.

He emphasized that the plant would be built in the country, not abroad. The big target is to reduce dependence on imported jet fuel.

"What is the goal? We will try not to import jet fuel anymore," said Bahlil.

Bahlil also touched on long-term plans to produce high-octane gasoline domestically. He said R95, R98, and R93 are planned to be produced entirely in Indonesia.

According to Bahlil, the policy direction was taken so that there was no longer dependence on fuel imports.

"We plan to produce everything domestically so that there will be no more problems with imports," he said.