Antara News (08/09/2026) - Jakarta (ANTARA) - The implementation of the 50 percent palm oil-based biodiesel blend (B50) mandate will save Indonesia roughly Rp170 trillion (approximately US$9.66 billion) in foreign exchange by significantly reducing diesel imports, according to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).

Speaking before Commission XII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Jakarta on Tuesday, the ministry’s Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) Eniya Listiani Dewi said that the energy policy is substantially bolstering the nation’s financial reserves while driving energy independence.

By cutting diesel imports in half—down from a previous high of 18 million kiloliters—the policy has radically altered Indonesia’s energy production profile.

Biofuel integration has reached a milestone level relative to conventional crude oil output.

"If our crude oil lifting stands at 610,000 barrels per day, vegetable oil lifting has already reached nearly half that figure, at 300,000 barrels per day," Eniya told lawmakers, highlighting how domestic agricultural raw materials are directly strengthening national energy security.

Related news: B50 program advances Indonesia's energy independence

In addition to foreign exchange savings and energy security, the B50 program is expected to yield environmental and economic benefits.

According to the Ministry's official data, the biofuel initiative will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 44.46 million tons and support employment absorption for 2.1 million people by 2026.

Separately, President Director of state-owned downstream retailer Pertamina Patra Niaga, Mars Ega Legowo Putra, reported that 6,050 out of 6,412 public fuel stations (SPBU) across Indonesia, or 94 percent, have distributed B50 biodiesel.

"There are still 362 gas stations that have not yet distributed B50 because they are clearing remaining B40 inventory," Ega explained.

Data across Pertamina's eight Marketing Operation Regions (MORs) indicates that most areas have achieved over 90 percent market penetration for B50.

The sole exception is the Maluku and Papua region, where implementation stands at 65 percent while local supply depots exhaust existing B40 stocks.

Related news: Indonesia's B50 distribution reaches 80 percent nationwide

Read more at https://en.antaranews.com/news/430491/b50-cuts-diesel-imports-save-indonesia-rp170-trillion-in-forex