Jakarta – The government has stated that Indonesia is currently moving towards self-sufficiency in diesel fuel following the mandatory implementation of B40 biodiesel which has resulted in a domestic surplus. This situation is considered to be a major factor in Indonesia’s ability to stop diesel imports sooner than originally planned.
The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR), Bahlil Lahadalia, on Thursday, 22 January, revealed that the combination of an increase in mandatory biodiesel and the strengthening of national refinery capacity has pushed the national diesel balance into surplus. One of the determining factors is the operation of PT Pertamina (Persero)’s Balikpapan Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP) project.
“If we look at the current accumulation of B40 consumption and production, with the support of RDMP Balikpapan, we already have a surplus supply of around 1.4 million kilolitres,” said Bahlil at a Working Meeting with Commission XII of the Indonesian House of Representatives.
This surplus has emerged alongside the increasing use of biodiesel in recent years. Since the implementation of B30 in 2021 to B35 in 2024, biodiesel consumption has consistently risen. It peaked in 2025, when the B40 mandate was fully implemented, and domestic biodiesel utilisation reached 14.2 million kilolitres, exceeding the government’s target. As a result, diesel imports were significantly reduced.
According to Bahlil, this situation opens up opportunities for the government to completely shut down diesel imports. He emphasised that future policy will no longer focus solely on reducing imports, but rather on ensuring that national energy needs are met through domestic production.
“With the current supply situation, our target is clear: in the future, solar imports will no longer be necessary,” he said.
Not stopping at solar energy, the government is also preparing further measures in other fuel sectors. Bahlil said that the government is designing a scheme so that Indonesia will no longer depend on imports of medium to high octane petrol in the coming years, in line with the optimisation of refineries and the strengthening of bioenergy policies.
In addition, the national diesel fuel surplus is also being directed towards supporting the development of domestic jet fuel. The government and Pertamina are currently reviewing the use of this surplus as raw material, so that dependence on imported jet fuel can be gradually reduced.
“The advantages of solar energy will not be ignored. We encourage its utilisation, including for the development of aviation fuel, so that in the future, imports of aviation fuel and certain types of fuel can be reduced or even stopped,” said Bahlil.
As part of its long-term strategy, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is also testing the use of biodiesel with higher blends, such as B50. The results of these tests will form the basis for future policy, taking into account the readiness of engine technology, infrastructure, and the impact on the national economy and industry. (Hartatik)
Banner photo: Image generated by OpenAI’s DALL·E via ChatGPT (2025)
