Indonesia's new leader hopes to implement palm-based biodiesel at 50% by 2025

Indonesia President-elect Prabowo Subito hopes to implement mandatory 50% palm-oil-based biodiesel blend by early next. He said this would reduce fuel imports from $20 billion annually.

Last week, Indonesia announced that it would increase the blend to 40% by January 2025 from the current 35% in order to reduce fuel imports as well as lower emissions from fossil fuels.

In October, Prabowo will take over from incumbent Joko. His administration had ordered palm oil producers to prepare for B50. The higher blending preparation has already been tested.

Prabowo, late Saturday night, said: "We will accelerate from B35 to B40 and B50."

Once we reach B50 (God willing, by the end of this or early next year), we will be able to save $20 billion per year. We won't need to send money overseas.

In the past, increasing palm oil in a blend has taken around a year to test both in labs and on roads. (Reporting and editing by Martin Petty; Bernadette Christopher)

(source: Reuters)