Indonesia has officially launched its ambitious B50 biodiesel plan, raising the blend ratio of palm oil-based biofuel to 50 percent in diesel, a move aimed at boosting national energy self-sufficiency and cutting reliance on imported fuel.
On Thursday, President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated the B50 biodiesel policy in Karawang, West Java, making Indonesia the first country globally to fully implement the standard. While many drivers at filling stations voiced support for the plan, concerns remain over potential diesel price hikes.
"It's half plant-based, half petroleum; I think that's great. It's greener. But the most important thing is diesel prices shouldn't rise any further," said Sofian, fellow truck driver.
Indonesia is the world's largest palm oil producer, and since adopting fuel blending policies in 2008 has rolled out B2.5, B30, and B40 standards. Data from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources suggests palm oil consumption for biodiesel will rise from 15.2 million tons last year to 16.3-17 million tons under B50.
Experts warned the move will drive palm oil prices higher, even beyond Indonesia.
"But I think with this B50, the demand (for palm oil) is just really high, and that increases from 40 percent to 50 percent. In addition, I think with the El Nino coming up, so the heat. Every time there's an El Nino in Indonesia, often the risk of forest fire increases. So that would affect the supply as well. So definitely the prices will go up here, I think internationally, for palm oil," said Dipo Satria Ramli, researcher at Indonesia's Center of Reform on Economics.
Besides higher prices, experts said the B50 rollout brings greater challenges across the supply chain. Noting gaps remain in methanol supply, fuel storage, logistics, and infrastructure in Indonesia, experts said that ongoing investment will be crucial to ensure the plan's continued success.
Indonesia launches world’s first B50 biodiesel plan
China strongly deplores and firmly opposes the statement made by Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi 10 years after the so-called "2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea", a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in Beijing on Sunday.
The statement blatantly endorses the illegal "award", attacks China's lawful claims and mischaracterizes Japan as a "legitimate stakeholder who uses the South China Sea", said the spokesperson.
Japan is not a party in the South China Sea and is in no position to pass judgment on China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. During World War II, Japan committed innumerable crimes that caused untold suffering on China and its people, including the illegal occupation of islands and reefs in the South China Sea, said the spokesperson.
Now decades later, Japan, in the name of a "stakeholder", is again attempting to meddle in the South China Sea. This reminds people of Japan's history of aggression and expansion, and heightens their vigilance against Japan's neo-militarism agenda, said the spokesperson.
China's sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea were established in the long course of history, and are solidly grounded in the law. China's activities in the South China Sea are fully legitimate, lawful and beyond reproach. China's rights in the South China Sea can by no means be denied by the makeshift "arbitral tribunal", said the spokesperson.
In rendering the "award", the "arbitral tribunal" exceeded its authority and abused its jurisdiction. The "award" is naturally illegal, null and void, and has no binding force. It has gravely undermined the sanctity and authority of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and dealt a serious blow to the international rule of law, said the spokesperson.
China neither accepts nor recognizes the "award", and opposes and will never accept any claim or action arising from it, the spokesperson added.
By turning a blind eye to the glaring flaws in the "award" while openly endorsing it, Japan has laid bare its double standards and hypocrisy, said the spokesperson.
What Japan really cares about is not the international rule of law, but meddling in and destabilizing the South China Sea. For some time, Japan has been stepping up collaboration with the Philippines and expanding its export of weapons and equipment to the country. Japan has also deployed military forces overseas on many occasions and launched offensive missiles. These actions go far beyond the scope of self-defense, break free from Japan's Constitution and norms in the international law, and challenge the post-war international order, said the spokesperson.
China urges Japan to stop smearing China, stop sowing disinformation in the South China Sea, and stop undermining peace and stability in the region, said the spokesperson, adding that China will continue firmly defending its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.
Any attempts to challenge China's lawful rights and interests and undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea are doomed to fail, the spokesperson said.
China strongly deplores Japanese FM's statement on South China Sea: spokesperson
