JAKARTA - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) plans to stop importing solar in 2026. Thus, all business entities providing fuel, both private and state-owned, cannot supply solar from abroad.
Director General of Oil and Gas (Migas) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Laode Sulaeman explained that later private gas stations will also buy solar produced from domestic refineries to meet their supply.
"What is meant by stopping imports is that it includes the private sector. So it means that we don't import anymore. If the private sector wants to buy, please buy what is in the product from the domestic refinery. So that's the understanding of the stop import is like that," said Laode, quoted Saturday, December 20.
The government's plan to stop importing solar fuel was previously revealed by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia. The import stop was due to the Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP) project of the Balikpapan Refinery which will operate and can increase crude oil processing capacity by 100,000 barrels per day (bph) to 360,000 bph.
"Next year, with the operation of the Balikpapan RDMP, we will add more than 100 thousand barrels per day," said Bahlil in the Plenary Cabinet Meeting, Monday, December 15.
Bahlil added that although the mandatory policy of mixing biodiesel 50 percent or B50 has not been implemented, he has ensured that solar imports will not be carried out next year.
"So starting next year Indonesia will no longer import solar, because between consumption and production we are enough," continued Bahlil.
Later, when the refinery and the B50 program have started to run simultaneously, BAhlil said Indonesia will experience a solar surplus of up to 4 million tons.
"We are thinking, if we really want to push to B50, then the surplus solar oil of approximately 4 million tons will be converted to make avtur products. So in 2026, God willing, our solar oil will be clear, we can also produce avtur domestically," said Bahlil.
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