The Indonesian Ministry of Energy announced on Wednesday, 07, that it wants, within three years, to adopt the mixture of 5% ethanol to fuel, starting with some provinces of the country.

According to the project, developed with the Bandung Institute of Technology, the introduction of fuel bioethanol could begin with the mixture of 5% sugar-based ethanol with octane gasoline 90 or higher. The idea is to start with the capital Jakarta and East Java.

According to the announcement, released by Reuters in the medium term, the mix is expected to be increased to 10% and launched in other areas of the island of Java. By 2031, the mixture can increase to 15% of bioethanol in fuel and distributed nationally.

The Southeast Asian country has been trying to increase efforts to diversify fuel sources due to high fuel prices. However, according to Edi Wibowo, the ministry's director of bioenergy, Indonesia needed to expand its production capacity for ethanol made from sugarcane.

Today, the country's annual production of bioethanol for fuel is about 40,000 kiloliters. "The available supply of bioethanol producers for fuel could only meet 5.7% of demand in Eastern Java and Jakarta, meaning supply should be increased," he said in a statement.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said last month that Indonesia intended to expand its sugarcane plantation area to try to become self-sufficient and also seek to develop renewable ethanol from sugar.

Indonesia currently has a mandatory 30% blend of palm oil fuel in diesel oil, known as B30, which officials say has helped the country reduce fuel import bills.

Source: RPA news