Government Prepares E50 Program Following B50 to Cut Fuel Imports

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Following the successful implementation of the B50 program, which significantly reduced the import dependency on CN48 diesel fuel, the Indonesian government is now drafting plans for the E50 program to further bolster domestic fuel self-sufficiency.

This strategic direction for the E50 program was directly issued by President Prabowo Subianto during the first plenary session of the National Energy Council (DEN) for 2026, held at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta recently.

During the session, the President, serving as the Chairman of DEN, discussed national energy policies and security strategies. Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia, stated that his ministry has been instructed to analyze the success of the B50 initiative and replicate its framework in developing the upcoming E50 program.

"We received direct instructions from Mr. President to study the success of B50 and apply it toward E50. Furthermore, the President has ordered us to immediately formulate identical steps to build the E50 program," Bahlil stated following the plenary session.

Currently, national diesel consumption stands at approximately 39 million kiloliters per year, while gasoline consumption ranges between 39 and 40 million kiloliters annually.

In tandem with drafting the E50 program, the administration is actively expanding fuel availability through intensive exploration of new oil basins and blocks. The government also plans to optimize production from aging wells by deploying advanced technology.

"We will intervene in our legacy wells with technology. Additionally, the President has mandated that these 45,000 old wells must be managed professionally with zero violations or illicit sales at production sites," he added.

These reinforced energy policies form an integral part of the government's strategy to establish a robust national energy system capable of fulfilling domestic demand. Through the development of the E50 program, new oil exploration, and the optimization of legacy wells, the administration is taking comprehensive steps to secure national energy resilience.