B50 is available at 57 percent of Pertamina gas stations at a price of Rp6,800 per liter.

Illustration. (Photo: Dok. Antara)

KARAWANG - President Prabowo Subianto officially launched the mandatory biodiesel B50 program today, Thursday, July 9. For information, B50 is a vegetable fuel (BBN) based on 50 percent palm oil or 50 percent biodiesel.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia said that this biofuel is used for domestic consumption so that it is charged the same price as subsidized fuel.

"This B50 is for domestic consumption, especially those who are subsidized, the price remains Rp. 6,800. So there is no price increase," said Bahlil when launching B50 at the KM 57 Rest Area of the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road, Karawang Regency, West Java, Thursday, July 9.

In his report, Bahlil also said that after the implementation of B50, the implementation process of this new fuel requires a transition period of up to three months.

When met separately, the Director General of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) Eniya Listiani Dewi said that solar products with a 50 percent biodiesel mixture (B50) have been distributed to 57 percent of the PT Pertamina (Persero) network of SPBU.

"57 percent of Pertamina's gas stations are already there (distributed)," said Eniya.

He added that the distribution of B50 was not only in Jakarta but had also begun to spread to various regions on the island of Sumatra to some parts of Sulawesi.

"Java, Sumatra, and some of Sulawesi are still there. So it's starting to spread. Pertamina just reported that 57 percent has been distributed," he continued.

For information, fuel business entities that do not carry out the mixing obligation, or BBN business entities that do not distribute biodiesel according to the implementation target of 50 percent, may be subject to administrative sanctions in the form of written reprimands, temporary suspension of activities, and/or revocation of business licenses in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations.

As for supporting the implementation transition, the fuel business entity is given a transition period until September 30, 2026 to spend biodiesel stocks with a B40 mixing specification. The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources will also evaluate the implementation of B50 every three months.

It is known that the government has also conducted a comprehensive B50 test on six diesel engine user sectors, namely automotive, agricultural equipment and machinery, mining heavy equipment, marine transportation, power plants, and railways.