Bahlil Says B50 Can Stop Solar Imports, Transition Begins in Two Months

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia. (Teddy VOI)

KARAWANG - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia said the launch of B50 biodiesel was a big step to reduce Indonesia's dependence on imported diesel.

Bahlil said that the average national consumption of solar fuel was in the range of 38 million to 40 million kiloliters per year. Before B50 was implemented, Indonesia still imported around 3 million to 4 million kiloliters of solar fuel per year.

"With the implementation of B50, thank God we no longer import solar products to our country. And this is the first time," said Bahlil at the launch of B50 by President Prabowo Subianto in Karawang, West Java, Thursday, July 9.

According to Bahlil, B50 is not an easy job. So far, the increase in biodiesel blends has usually been gradual, around 5 percent to 10 percent. Even a 10 percent increase can require a trial for up to three years.

However, said Bahlil, President Prabowo asked B50 to be launched in 2026. The order was then translated by the government as part of efforts to strengthen energy sovereignty.

"The President said that no matter how, we must be able to launch B50 in 2026," said Bahlil.

Bahlil said the B50 trial was carried out for six months. The testing involved trains, cars, buses, ships, and vehicles made in Asia and Europe.

He claimed that the results of the B50 test were better than B40. One indicator is the life of the vehicle's filter.

According to Bahlil, in B40, the filter is usually replaced after the vehicle has traveled 10,000 to 20,000 kilometers. In B50, there are vehicles that have traveled 40,000 kilometers without changing the filter.

"Alhamdulillah the results of the test, it turns out that the quality of B50 is much better than B40," said Bahlil.

Bahlil also said that B50 is now being used by about 56 percent of the total solar running. The government is preparing a transition period of about two months until the use of B40 is exhausted and all switch to B50.

"So later the B40 will be over in two months, two months of transition, everything will use B50," he said.

Bahlil emphasized that the success of B50 does not only depend on the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. He said that this program involves many parties, ranging from coordinating ministries, the Ministry of Agriculture, BPDPKS, business actors, to Pertamina.

He also assessed that Pertamina had an important role because it processed most of the FAME used in this program.

"Honestly, Pak, without Pertamina, this B50 will not work," said Bahlil.