VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

An officer shows sample of B-20, B-30 and B-100 biodiesel fuels in Jakarta on February 26, 2019 ANTARA FOTO/Aprillio Akbar/aww/aa.

The utilization of biodiesel blended fuels reached 4.36 million kiloliters (kl) until mid-2020, constituting almost 68 percent of last year's total consumption, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry stated.

"The (COVID-19) pandemic has slightly slowed down the utilization of biodiesel owing to declining consumption in the transportation sector. However, the government is upbeat about the use of FAME (fatty acid methyl ester) until the end of this year surpassing last year's consumption due to the implementation of B-30 (a 30-percent biodiesel mix)," Chief of the Communication and Public Information Service Bureau of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Agung Pribadi stated in Jakarta on Friday.

Biodiesel consumption has risen significantly since 2016 by nearly 50 percent to reach 3.75 million kl in 2018 as compared to 2.57 million kl in 2017. The government will mandate the use of biodiesel blended fuels until consumption is clocked at 6.39 million kl.

The use of biodiesel mix has not only reduced the country's dependence on imported fuels but it has also had a larger multiplier effect on palm oil growers.

In fact, several parties, including Traction Energy Asia research manager Ricky Amukti, has supported and commended the use of biodiesel mix.

"Looking ahead, with this mandatory (use of biodiesel mix), we are optimistic that self-financing farmers can directly contribute to the biodiesel supply chain. In addition, we are upbeat about policies capable of encouraging the contribution," Amukti noted recently.

Furthermore, Amukti lauded the government for its efforts to support palm oil growers through mandating the use of biodiesel.

"For the umpteenth time, the president has always said biodiesel will be able to absorb palm oil from farmers. He last reiterated the statement while delivering his speech at the plenary session on August 14. May there be a great leap to support the farmers' welfare," he added.(ANTARA)

An officer of the Pertamina Marketing Operation Region VI in Kalimantan handed a COVID-19 alert package to a loyal customer in South Kalimantan (ANTARA/HO-Humas Pertamina)

State-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina has guaranteed safe nationwide fuel supplies to the public in spite of the ongoing novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Daily fuel consumption in the retail sector has risen to 122 thousand kiloliters, or seven percent below the pre-pandemic average, ever since Indonesia began easing large-scale social restrictions and adapting to a new normal.

Pertamina has guaranteed its fuel stocks are safe and remains committed to ensuring the smooth supply of all types of fuels, including subsidized gasoline Premium and Pertalite, Pertamina Vice President for Corporate Communication Fajriyah Usman noted in a written statement released on Friday.

Usman remarked that national fuel stocks were currently sufficient for 26 days of consumption.

"All types of products are available in adequate quantities to meet the needs of the public across Indonesia. Hence, they should not harbor concerns. They can purchase fuel to meet their daily consumption," he stated.

Usman pointed to an upward trend in fuel consumption ever since the country eased large-scale social restrictions early last June.

During the period of large-scale social restrictions, national fuel consumption dropped by some 25 percent and also by nearly 50 percent in several regions. However, fuel consumption has risen steadily to inch close to the normal level. (ANTARA)

Jakarta (VOI News) - The Indonesian government strongly condemns the Charlie Hebdo tabloid in France for republishing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. The Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi expressed criticism in a virtual press conference held on Friday (4/9). Retno Marsudi called this action irresponsible, provocative, and injured hundreds of millions of Muslims in the world. Retno said that this action had the potential to cause division when the world needed to unite against COVID-19.

"The fifth issue is the series of actions of burning and destroying the Koran in Sweden and Denmark as well as the re-publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad by the tabloid Charlie Hebdo. Indonesia strongly condemns all these acts. This act is irresponsible, provocative, and has been injuring the hearts of hundreds of millions of Muslims in the world. All of these actions are against the principles and values ​​of democracy, which have the potential to cause divisions among religious communities, at a time when the world needs unity to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic," Retno said.

The criticism was also directed against a series of acts and acts of burning and destroying the Koran in Sweden and Denmark, some time ago. (YOUTUBE KEMLU / NOUVA)

The signing of Prelimenary Agreement of Purchase and Supply of Bulk Production of COVID-19 Vaccine by Bio Farma President Director Honesti Basyir seated left) and General Manager of Sinovac Gao Xiang (seated right) as State-Owned Enterprises Minister concurrently Executive Chief of the Committee for COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Erick Thohir and Foreign Minister Retno L Marsudi looked on ini Hainan, China. on August 20, 2020 (ANTARA/HO-Kementerian BUMN)

Indonesia's Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto revealed on Friday that the government has disbursed funds to the tune of Rp3.3 trillion for this year for the development of a COVID-19 vaccine.
"The total amount of funds that the government will prepare for this multi-year program will reach Rp37 trillion," he told journalists after attending the COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Committee's meeting in Jakarta. 
Hartarto also highlighted Indonesia's recovery and death rates, saying the country's recovery rate has reached 71.7 percent, which is higher than the global recovery rate, while its mortality rate has been recorded at 4.2 percent.
Indonesia has been taking steps to secure a COVID-19 vaccine. At present, clinical trials of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine are being conducted in Bandung, West Java province.
A state-owned pharmaceutical holding company, Bio Farma, recently collaborated with China’s Sinovac to produce the COVID-19 vaccine for Indonesia. The materials provided by Sinovac for the vaccine arrived in Indonesia on July 19, 2020.
To tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesia is leaving no stone unturned to develop a vaccine to fight the virus.
Currently, in addition to the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, Indonesian scientists are working on a vaccine named after the country's national flag, Merah Putih (Red and White). (ANTARA)