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Minister Andi Amran S Officially Kicked Off The Soft Launch Of The B-50 Implementation At PT Jhonlin Agro Raya

Indonesia is aiming to become the world's food and energy hub. The Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman, is leading the trial and soft launch of the B-50 biodiesel initiative. "Many countries are currently facing food and energy crises. Indonesia is the solution to these global issues," said Minister Andi during the soft launch at the PT Jhonlin Agro Raya biodiesel plant in Batulicin, South Kalimantan, on Sunday (August 18). He mentioned that if Indonesia stays consistent, it could achieve food self-sufficiency again in three years, similar to the period from 2017 to 2020, and become a global food supplier. With the B-50 implementation, Indonesia could also become a major player in the biodiesel energy sector. The B-50 initiative is part of the government's efforts to achieve national energy independence and promote green energy. Andi Amran pointed out that Indonesia controls 58% of the world's CPO production. "This is a strength that, if utilized properly, can have significant economic and political impacts. Global oil prices will drop, while CPO prices will rise. This marks a new chapter for Indonesia," he added, noting that the government is currently focused on developing a national food reserve of one million hectares in Papua. He also highlighted that using biodiesel could save the country a significant amount in foreign exchange spent on diesel imports, which costs the state around Rp300-400 trillion annually. Additionally, utilizing palm oil for B-50 helps reduce dependence on the export market, which often faces negative campaigns and various export restrictions. "So, our goal is clear: we are preparing for the implementation of B-50 biodiesel. This soft launch will be a historic milestone as we lead the way in B-50 implementation in our country," Andi Amran concluded.

Bambang A Wisena, the CEO of Eshan Agro Sentosa (EAS) Group, expressed his optimism about the government's future biodiesel policies. He believes this initiative could really boost the national palm oil industry. However, he emphasized the need to prepare various aspects like technical, policy, commercial, and environmental factors to ensure the smooth implementation of the B-50 policy. Looking ahead, there's a strong belief that the demand for palm oil-based biodiesel will be significant, especially for domestic consumption to achieve national energy independence. According to the 2023 preliminary statistics from the Directorate General of Plantations, palm oil covers an area of 16.8 million hectares with a production of 46.9 million tons. South Kalimantan Governor Sahbirin Noor mentioned that his region is the first to implement B-50. The government is actively working towards achieving energy independence, particularly by accelerating the development of B-50 biodiesel. It's clear that biodiesel is a reliable alternative to fossil fuels, which are becoming increasingly scarce, and it plays a crucial role in positively impacting various aspects, especially the environment. The soft launch of the B-50 implementation was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Directorate General of Forestry and Environmental Law Enforcement, the Ministry of Industry, GAPKI, APROBI, BPDPKS, and the Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore.

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Tag: Andi Amran S Bambang A Wisena Minister Of Agriculture PT Jhonlin Agro Raya