Articles by Antara

Technology

Indonesia Denies B50 Biodiesel Plan Could Trigger Cooking Oil Shortage

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, has dismissed public concerns that the government’s B50 biodiesel program could trigger a cooking oil shortage due to higher crude palm oil (CPO) consumption.“There’s no issue of cooking oil scarcity,” Bahlil said, as quoted by Antara on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.Both cooking oil and biodiesel rely on CPO as their main raw material. Under Minister of Trade Decree No. 1531 of 2022 on Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) and Domestic Price Obligation (DPO) for CPO and cooking oil, national cooking oil production requires around 416,000 tons of CPO per month, or roughly 4.99 million tons per year.Meanwhile, the B50 mandatory program, which blends 50 percent biodiesel with fossil diesel, will need about 5.3 million tons of CPO annually.To maintain adequate supply, Bahlil said the government is preparing three strategies: intensifying production on existing plantations, opening new oil palm land, or reducing exports through the DMO mechanism.“By applying the B50 policy, we could reduce exports slightly to secure domestic needs. That’s one of the alternatives,” he said.CPO Export Reduction Under ReviewMinister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman also stated that the government plans to cut CPO exports by up to 5.3 million tons to support the B50 program’s rollout in the second half of 2026.According to him, Indonesia’s total CPO production currently stands at 46 million tons per year, of which 20 million tons are processed domestically and around 26 million tons exported abroad.Experts Warn of Risks to Palm Oil IndustryHowever, experts have urged the government to carefully assess the economic impact before moving forward.Bayu Krisnamurthi, an agribusiness professor at the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), warned that raising the biodiesel blend from B40 to B50 could increase subsidy burdens, suppress CPO exports, and push up cooking oil prices.“If not handled carefully, the competitiveness of Indonesia’s palm oil industry could decline,” Bayu said.Bayu noted that while the B50 program could save up to Rp172 trillion in foreign exchange from reduced diesel imports, it might also result in Rp190 trillion in lost export revenue from lower CPO sales abroad.“There must be a balance between energy targets, export performance, and farmers’ welfare,” he added.“Indonesia’s palm oil industry is very strong. Let’s not be the ones to weaken it.”Editor’s Choice: Coal Entrepreneurs Worry B50 Implementation Will Reduce Industry Competitiveness in IndonesiaClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

Technology

Indonesia U-23 Coach Seeks Strong Opponent for November FIFA Matchday

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The coach of the U-23 Indonesian national team, Indra Sjafri, is seeking strong opponents for the upcoming FIFA Matchday games in November 2025. These matches will be part of the team's preparations for the SEA Games in Thailand 2025.According to Indra, the friendly matches will be used to comprehensively evaluate the team's strength, including its tactics, mentality, and cohesion. He stated, "This is not just a friendly match, but it is a crucial part of the process of shaping a solid team that is ready to compete in actual tournaments," as quoted in a statement received in Jakarta on Saturday, October 25, 2025.Indra emphasized that the international matches in the friendly agenda are not merely for friendship; they are a strategic part of the ongoing, continuous training program conducted by the coaching staff. He mentioned that these two games will be designed as integrated competitive simulations aligned with the training process and player performance evaluations."We will use these matches to assess the team's overall strength, including tactics, mentality, and player cohesion," stated the coach from West Sumatra.Following the two friendlies against the India U-23 national team last October, the coaching staff is currently selecting the next potential opponents. "We will discuss with the PSSI (Indonesian Football Association) General Secretary, the National Team Board, and the Technical Director to determine the most suitable opponents for our needs, as the quality and character of the opponents significantly affect the effectiveness of our preparations," Indra explained.Previously, the Indonesian U-23 national team played two friendly matches against India at the Madya Stadium, Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta. In the first meeting on Friday, October 10, Garuda Muda lost 1-2. In the second game, they drew 1-1.Indra ensured that all preparation aspects are progressing as planned, including player evaluations and strengthening of playing patterns. He emphasized that the main goal of the FIFA Matchday games is not only to win but to achieve the best performance leading up to the biennial Southeast Asian tournament.Through thorough preparations and the selection of suitable opponents, Indra hopes that the Young Garuda squad will be competitive at the SEA Games in Thailand 2025, which will be held in December.Editor's Choice: Indonesian Midfielder Hopes Kluivert's Successor Will Meet These CriteriaClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

Technology

Prabowo Urges Reduction in Indonesia's Hajj Costs and Waiting Time

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has urged the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to lower the hajj costs and shorten the waiting time for Indonesian pilgrims to 26 years."The Hajj Minister is not present because he is currently in Saudi Arabia dealing with them, I ask for the hajj costs to continue to decrease. Yes, it can be achieved through efficiency. It can be achieved through efficiency and clean implementation," said President Prabowo during his introduction at the Plenary Cabinet Meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta, Monday, October 20, 2025.Leading the Plenary Cabinet Meeting in the first year of his administration, President Prabowo requested the Hajj and Umrah Minister Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, who was unable to attend, to review the possibility of reducing hajj costs through budget efficiency.In addition to lowering hajj costs, Prabowo also wants to expedite the waiting time for hajj to 26 years from the current average of 40 years. The head of state is optimistic that these two targets can be achieved. Moreover, the government has established the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, whereas previously, hajj affairs were under the Hajj Organizing Agency.Prabowo explained that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah was established at the request of the Saudi Arabian Government, which believed that hajj affairs should be handled at ministerial level."Oh, this is the Head of the Agency.' No, they want a minister. What can we do, we adjust," said the President.On this occasion, the President also conveyed that for the first time in history, the Saudi Arabian Government has amended their laws and approved foreign countries to purchase land in the Holy Land.Therefore, the Saudi Arabian Government has offered several strategic lands, some of which are not too far from the Masjid al-Haram. However, the land purchase must be conducted through an open auction together with around 90 other entities."When I met the Foreign Minister last time, he said, 'Sir, there's a closed auction on October 30. But how many other entities are bidding for the land we want? 90, right?' Hopefully, maybe the Minister of Religious Affairs will lead a special prayer later," said Prabowo.Editor's Choice: Indonesia Maintains 221,000 Hajj Quota for 2026Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News