Jakarta, July 14 -- Indonesia has launched its mandatory B50 biodiesel program, becoming the first country in the world to implement a 50 percent vegetable oil-blended fuel policy.

Officially launched on July 1, the B50 program serves as a strategic initiative to strengthen national economic and energy resilience, according to Head of the Indonesian Government Communications Agency (Bakom) Muhammad Qodari.

"This policy is part of the government's strategic agenda to reduce dependence on imported fuel, increase the added value of national natural resources and maintain Indonesia's economic and energy resilience," Qodari said in his statement on Monday (July 13).

The mandatory B50 program requires a strict fuel mixture comprising 50 perc...