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The sporadic increase in biofuel blending mandates, such as B35, reflects a lack of mature planning, which risks damaging forest and land ecosystems. Diversifying feedstocks beyond palm oil is an unavoidable step to position biofuels as a strategic commodity and as part of a sustainable and just national energy transition.

There is significant potential for non-palm feedstocks for biofuels. For biodiesel, HVO, and bioavtur, potential feedstocks include jatropha, nyamplung (Calophyllum inophyllum), tall oil, and used cooking oil. Bioethanol can be produced from molasses, cassava, sorghum, and palm oil residues. Jatropha has particularly high potential, especially in Indonesia’s 3T regions such as East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Waste also represents a promising feedstock for biofuel diversification. Studies show that the potential supply of used cooking oil reaches around 715 kilotons per year, although current collection rates are only about 20-40%. In addition, animal fats and oil, such as fish processing wastewater are estimated to have the potential to produce approximately 97.2 million liters of biodiesel per year.