Indonesia bans export of palm oil waste to stimulate domestic energy use

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced that the country is banning the export of palm oil waste, including used cooking oil, to prioritize its use for domestic needs, particularly for the development of energy self-sufficiency, reports the Indonesian news agency Antara. During the 2026 National Coordination Meeting of central and regional authorities in Sentul, West Java province, Prabowo emphasized that the rich resources of palm oil should primarily serve national interests. "Palm oil waste, including used oil, is used for the production of aviation fuel. Therefore, I am banning its export. It must first serve the people of Indonesia," the president stated. He described palm oil as a strategic raw material with a wide range of applications – from cooking oil and food products to soap and biodiesel. Prabowo called it a "great crop" capable of meeting global demand. The president noted that ...