B50 Now Applies at All Indonesian Fuel Stations as of 1 October 2026; Government Studies B60 for 2027

Jakarta — The transition period has formally ended. Since Thursday, 1 October 2026, diesel blended with 50% biodiesel (B50) has applied in full across Indonesia's fuel station network. The government is now preparing the next step: a technical study of B60 for 2027.

The B50 obligation itself took effect on 1 July 2026 under ESDM Ministerial Decree (Kepmen) No. 257.K/EK.01/MEM.E/2026. The government, however, allowed a three-month grace period, until 30 September 2026, so that fuel distributors still holding B40 stock could run it down first.

From 67 percent to full coverage

B50 supply rose gradually during the transition. At the July launch, Eniya Listiani Dewi, Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), put coverage at only about 67%. According to Eniya, as quoted by Sawit Indonesia from CNBC Indonesia, Pertamina's B50 deliveries had passed 90% by early September, while the national average, including private fuel distributors, stood at around 80% ahead of the target of full coverage on 1 October. "From 1 October, all points are full B50," she said.

A government report as of mid-September recorded 6,050 fuel stations dispensing B50, with another 362 still switching over from B40. In Central Java, for example, ESDM recorded 860 of 904 stations (about 95%) supplying B50 from the province's six fuel terminals.

Pertamina: B50 from terminals to fuel stations

PT Pertamina (Persero) says it has delivered B50 across its entire distribution network. "Pertamina is supplying B50 across its entire distribution network, from fuel terminals to fuel stations," Muhammad Baron, VP Corporate Communication at Pertamina, told ANTARA on Thursday, 1 October 2026.

According to Baron, the transition period was used so that B50 could be supplied in full without disrupting availability for the public and businesses. Pertamina also safeguards quality through routine testing at fuel terminals and monitoring at service points, while expanding storage capacity, FAME receiving readiness and its tanker truck fleet through Pertamina Patra Niaga.

The role of non-Pertamina fuel distributors remains a concern. Pertamina handles about 80% of national fuel distribution, so the government is also monitoring compliance by other distributors. A full evaluation of B50 implementation is scheduled for December 2026, and companies that fail to meet the blending obligation may face administrative sanctions. The claim of full coverage from 1 October comes from the government and Pertamina; station-level supply data after that date, particularly for non-Pertamina distributors, has not been released.

Editor's note: "Fully applied" as of 1 October 2026 refers to fuel station coverage once the three-month transition ended. The government itself still describes 2026 as a transition year: according to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, full B50 implementation starts in January 2027, and the 2026 biodiesel volume allocation was set to fit that transition (Hukumonline, 9 July 2026).

B60 in sight for 2027

With B50 now reaching all fuel stations, the government has begun studying B60 for 2027. According to Sawit Indonesia, one of the options under review is a blend of 50% FAME and 10% hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), rather than simply raising the FAME share. The final composition has not been decided; the study of FAME requirements for B60 is expected to be completed in December 2026. The HVO option reflects the fuel's chemical similarity to fossil diesel, which allows more freedom in blending, although its price is reported at roughly 1.5 to 2 times that of FAME. See also: Biodiesel blends from B10 to B60 explained. Read: Biodiesel, HVO and sustainable aviation fuel: what is the difference?

B50 in numbers

• FAME requirement: about 16.7–18 million kilolitres (kL) per year, equivalent to 15.2–16.3 million tonnes of crude palm oil (CPO).
• Projected foreign-exchange savings: up to IDR 170 trillion per year.
• Projected emissions reduction: about 44.46 million tonnes of CO₂e in 2026.
• Projected employment: about 2.1 million people.

All of the figures above are government projections. Media Biodiesel will follow the December evaluation to see how they compare with actual results.