The country’s Energy and Mineral Resources Minister has issued a decree that has allocated 15.6 million kiloliters of biodiesel for 2025. This new regulation would require the producers of biodiesel and fuel retailers to make some adjustments.
This step contribute’s to the nation’s efforts to scale the use of renewable energy in its transportation and industrial sectors.
Also read: EU wins WTO battle over palm oil biodiesel
Biodiesel Mix in 2025
Indonesia is the world’s biggest exporter of palm oil. In order to seize that opportunity, it has put forward a directive increase in the share of biodiesel that needs to be derived from palm oil. From next year, this regulation will be imposed on the biodiesel fuel that must consist of 40% palm oil. This amount is 5% more than the previous amounts used.
The country aims to take the amount further by increasing the palm oil content to 50% in the next year.
Minister Bahlil Lahadalia confirmed the signing of the decree. He explained that the government is working to further increase the biodiesel mix in 2026. As per a senior ministry official, Eniya Listiani Dewi, the government has given producers and fuel retailers until February 28 to adjust to the new B40 biodiesel mix. The delay was due to technical challenges related to fuel subsidies.
Biodiesel Allocation and Subsidies
For 2025, the government allocated 15.6 million KL of biodiesel, a significant increase from the estimated 12.98 million KL for 2024. The government will reserve 7.55 million KL of the total allocation for the public service obligation (PSO), covering sectors like public transportation. Indonesia’s palm oil fund will subsidize this portion. The government will sell the remaining 8.07 million KL at market prices.
Minister Bahlil clarified that the palm oil fund cannot subsidize the full price gap between palm oil and fossil fuels. The government is considering increasing subsidies, as BPDPKS estimated a 68% subsidy hike for the B40 mix.
Indonesia reportedly plans to increase the export levy of crude palm oil. It wants to increase it from 7.5% to 10% to provide for the additional subsidy increment. This change will need to be implemented through a separate official regulation.
The government intends to strike a balance between the need for subsidizing biodiesel with retaining the competitiveness of Indonesia’s palm oil exports.