The context of the “Big-Push Strategy Masterplan” with the new non-military paradigm, includes food and energy self-sufficiency and clean water availability. Energy security is managed according to a climate change agenda and reduction of carbon emissions, with new energy / renewable energy resources, including bioenergy.
To realize a phased transition toward energy self-sufficiency, Prabowo Subianto selected cassava bioethanol, which would be in line with the Government’s palm oil bioenergy program. Prabowo chose cassava for bioethanol because cassava is not a staple food crop of the Indonesian people. In addition, it is easy to grow from home garden to plantation levels. Oil palms, on the other hand, are a main crop used to produce cooking oil. Thus, there is a potential for conflicts between its use for bioenergy or as a main food item. The ruckus about soaring cooking oil prices happening some time ago proves that competition does exist. Pertamina, a state-owned energy company pursuing the B30 palm oil biodiesel program, was accused to be the cause of the cooking oil scarcity.
Prabowo Subianto’s message of energy self-sufficiency aims to reduce dependence on fuel and crude oil imports. Cassava bioethanol is a cheaper option to realize an energy transition from fossil fuels to bioethanol, because it derives from local resources and production factors. This means a local procurement rate can reach 100 percent.