JAKARTA: (Bernama) Indonesia could achieve energy self-sufficiency within the next three to four years as the government moves to reduce its reliance on imported fuel, said President Prabowo Subianto.
He pointed to the planned rollout of the B50 fuel in July as one of the measures supporting the government's energy self-sufficiency agenda.
"B50 diesel fuel will be processed from 50 per cent palm oil. With that, we will no longer import diesel fuel from abroad, and we will save a great deal.
"I estimate that in three years, or at most four years, we will achieve energy self-sufficiency. We do not want to import anything for our fuel needs, for our energy needs,” he said in his remarks before closing the 17th National Farmers and Fishermen Week 2026 in Gorontalo, Sulawesi on Wednesday, which was broadcast live.
Speaking to reporters after the event, Prabowo said rice yields had increased from about five tonnes of unhusked rice per hectare to more than 10 tonnes per hectare.
"Land that previously produced five tonnes of unhusked rice can now produce more than 10 tonnes, even 12 tonnes. That means our productivity has increased by 100 per cent,” he said.
Prabowo attributed the gains to innovations, technologies and farming techniques developed by the agricultural sector, saying Indonesia could eventually become a major rice producer capable of helping other countries meet their food needs if such progress could be sustained.
"Not long from now, we can become a rice granary for the world. We can help many countries. But the key thing now is that we must safeguard this progress. It cannot be a phenomenon that lasts only one or two years. The system must be sustainable,” he said. - Bernama
