Prabowo at Gontor: Indonesia No Longer Imports Diesel, Calls Palm Oil a Magical Plant

PONOROGO, KOMPAS.com - President Prabowo Subianto announced that Indonesia has achieved self-sufficiency in diesel fuel supply by utilizing palm oil as the raw material for fuel production.

Prabowo made this statement while attending the centennial celebration of Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor (PMDG) in Ponorogo, East Java, on Saturday (19/9/2026).

In his speech, Prabowo said that since July 1, Indonesia has stopped importing diesel fuel from abroad.

Calling palm oil a magical plant

According to him, domestic diesel demand is now met by production made from palm oil.

"Our diesel fuel is now self-sufficient," he said.

Prabowo then described palm oil as a "magical plant" because it can produce various derivative products, including fuel.

He added that professors and engineering faculties in Indonesia have developed technologies to produce fuel from palm oil.

"Our professors, our engineering faculties, have successfully made diesel and gasoline from palm oil," Prabowo stated.

Coal-based fuel production

SHUTTERSTOCK/KYTan Illustration of palm oil.

Besides palm oil-based fuels, Prabowo said the government will also develop fuel production using coal as raw material.

This statement was made as he emphasized the importance of Indonesia managing its natural resources independently to achieve energy sovereignty.

"And we will also make gasoline from coal," he added.

Prabowo: Don’t believe everything on social media

He observed that Indonesia needs leaders capable of managing natural resources with knowledge and integrity.

"It depends on our leaders — whether they are competent, capable, knowledgeable, sincere," he said.

Prabowo then reminded that Indonesia's natural wealth is a trust that must be safeguarded and wisely managed.

"Can we protect and manage all the wealth given to us by the Almighty?" he asked.

In his speech, Prabowo also urged Gontor’s students to prepare themselves as future leaders of the nation.

"You are the ones who will take over. You will continue our struggle," he said.

He advised the students not to easily believe all the information circulating on social media.

Prabowo also cautioned that some parties, in his view, want Indonesia to remain weak and impoverished.

He then emphasized the importance of Indonesia's independence to avoid dependence on other countries.

"Be careful, don't believe everything on social media. We don’t want to be slaves to other nations. We want to be a great nation. We will stand on our own feet," Prabowo said.