Indonesia sees biodiesel consumption rising more than 40% in 2022 with B40

Indonesia is targeting biodiesel consumption of 14.2 million kilo litres (KL) in 2022, assuming the country has started using biodiesel with 40% bio-content (B40) by then, Andriah Feby Misna, the energy ministry's director of bioenergy said.

Indonesia started a mandatory 30% bio-content biodiesel programme in late 2019, with the government aiming to start testing B40 soon and mandatory usage to start in 2021 or 2022.

"The research and development department are currently conducting studies. If the results are okay and we have enough production, then we can implement B40," Misna told reporters on Monday.

Biodiesel consumption would increase from the nearly 10 million KL estimated this year

The biodiesel programme is one of President Joko Widodo's main economic policies to narrow the country's current account deficit by cutting energy imports. It also aims to increase the use of palm oil.

(Reporting by Wilda Asmarini; Writing by Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)