Erick Thohir Appreciates Jokowi's Policy Which Is Considered Able To Process Raw Goods Into Finished Products, Such As Processed Palm Oil

Minister of SOEs, Erick Thohir. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of SOEs)

JAKARTA - SOE Minister Erick Thohir emphasized that the use of alternative energy, such as biodiesel, is the government's focus. This is in line with the president's directive so that Indonesia can reduce fuel imports by utilizing alternative energy. He considered that alternative energy is an important foundation for national energy security.

"In all sectors including the energy sector, our dependence on imported products must be minimized as much as possible. In accordance with the President's directives, an independent national energy industry is an important foundation for energy sovereignty," he said in a written statement, Thursday, October 21.

Erick also appreciated Jokowi's steps to continue to encourage Indonesia to be able to process raw materials into finished products. One of them is in the processing of palm oil, where Indonesia no longer imports raw materials, but processes them into finished materials.

"With the better quality of human resources supported by adequate infrastructure, it becomes a momentum for us to be able to process ready-to-use industries," he said.

Previously, President Joko Widodo emphasized the importance of downstreaming and industrializing palm oil to be carried out in the country. This is because of its enormous potential.

"Downstream, industrialization must be carried out and we must force it to be done," he said.

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In addition, Jokowi said that strengthening the biodiesel industry is a very strategic choice in the future in order to increase national energy security, as well as reduce the large trade balance deficit due to diesel imports.

"This means that if we are able to produce our own biodiesel here as a mixture into diesel, our imports will also drop drastically. So this is my record in 2020 saving foreign exchange of IDR 38 trillion, it is estimated that in 2021 it will save foreign exchange of IDR 56 trillion," he said.

The inauguration of the national biodiesel factory by President Jokowi was also attended by Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Governor of South Kalimantan Sahbirin Noor, and Regent of Tanah Bumbu Zairullah Azhar.