Indonesia to ban palm oil waste exports to prioritise domestic energy use

President Prabowo Subianto said Indonesia will ban the export of palm oil waste, including used cooking oil, to ensure the material is used domestically, particularly for biodiesel and aviation fuel production.

The president made the announcement at the 2026 National Coordination Meeting of Central and Regional Governments in Sentul, Bogor.

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Prabowo said palm oil waste and used cooking oil are feedstocks for aviation fuel and should first serve national interests. He added that palm oil is a strategic commodity with derivatives ranging from food products to soap and bioenergy.

He said channeling palm oil waste into domestic energy production is aimed at reducing Indonesia’s reliance on imported fuel and supporting the country’s goal of energy self-sufficiency.

Prabowo also said Indonesia aims to become self-sufficient in biodiesel and to develop into one of the world’s major producers of aviation fuel based on palm oil.

Editing by Alexander Ginting