Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto says Indonesia is aspiring to achieve energy self-sufficiency by embracing renewable resources such as cassava.

While the government has expressed its commitment to transitioning towards renewable energy, the current production of cassava for ethanol, a potential source of renewable energy, falls short of the required quantity.

Yudhistira Nugraha, Head of the Food Crops Research Center at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), said that although cassava is a high-starch crop that can be converted into ethanol, Indonesia still relies on imports, mainly for industrial and food raw material needs.

To effectively utilize cassava as a biofuel source, Nugraha emphasized the necessity of increasing national cassava production.

He suggested the allocation of specific lands as energy plantations to avoid interfering with cassava's role as a food source.

The current outlook for cassava in Indonesia, as per the 2020 Cassava Outlook report by the Ministry of Agriculture's Data and Information System Center, indicates fluctuating production levels with a slight overall increase. The report highlights a need for strategic efforts to enhance cassava production.

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, during a recent speech, reiterated his commitment to steering Indonesia towards renewable energy self-sufficiency.

He emphasized harnessing resources such as palm oil, sugarcane, and cassava to achieve this goal. Prabowo envisions a future where Indonesia no longer relies on imported fossil fuels.

While Prabowo acknowledged the potential environmental benefits of using biofuels derived from crops like cassava, he stressed the importance of building a generation of young, capable individuals to lead the country towards sustainable and clean energy practices.

Indonesia has already made progress in producing biodiesel from palm oil, achieving B100, which comprises 100 percent palm oil biodiesel.

The Defense Minister remains optimistic about Indonesia's ability to attain renewable energy self-sufficiency in a relatively short period, setting an example for other nations in transitioning towards clean and sustainable energy.