JAKARTA, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto officially inaugurated the Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP) at Refinery Unit V in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan province, on Monday.
The Balikpapan RDMP is part of the Indonesian government's efforts to strengthen national energy security and support Indonesia's goal of energy self-sufficiency.
During the ceremony, Prabowo said the project is expected to reduce Indonesia's dependence on imported fuel, while emphasizing that Indonesia has abundant energy resources, including palm oil for biodiesel, geothermal energy, solar power, and hydropower. He said these resources should be managed properly so the country can achieve energy independence.
"We must not depend on energy from outside. We want to be independent, and we are capable," Prabowo said.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia said that the Balikpapan RDMP is the biggest refinery project in the country, enabling the refinery to process up to 360,000 barrels of oil per day.
The project is expected to save up to 68 trillion Indonesian rupiah annually in fuel imports and make a significant contribution to the national economy. It will also improve fuel quality to Euro V standards and increase the production of valuable petroleum products. ■