Recent visits to Southeast Asia (SEA) by executive leaders from the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Growth Energy, and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) highlighted the U.S. ethanol industry’s support for the governments of Indonesia and Vietnam as they work to expand their domestic fuel ethanol policies.
USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor, and RFA Vice President Tad Hepner joined USGC staff from the Southeast Asia and Oceania (SEA&O) regional office for high-level discussions with government officials and private sector leaders.
Indonesia is aiming to introduce a five percent ethanol blend (E5) in gasoline by 2025, with plans to increase it to 10 percent (E10) by 2030. Vietnam, meanwhile, is exploring ways to expand its existing E5 ethanol mandate for RON92 (88 AKI) gasoline. Together, these two countries currently consume around 10 billion gallons of gasoline annually in Indonesia and three billion gallons in Vietnam.
“The governments of Indonesia and Vietnam recognize the potential of ethanol to lower supply chain costs while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said LeGrand. “Our mission, along with our industry allies, is to demonstrate to policymakers that ethanol is a feasible and compatible fuel option for virtually all road vehicles.”
In Indonesia, the delegation met with Pertamina, the state-owned oil and gas company, to review the company’s ongoing bioethanol trials and tour the country’s largest fuel terminal, where ethanol blending is already taking place. The team also held discussions with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Coordinating Ministry of Infrastructure and Rural Development to assess the country’s biofuel implementation progress and explore opportunities for further collaboration.
Additionally, the group met with representatives from the Indonesian Association of Spirits and Ethanol Producers (APSENDO) and Molindo, the country’s leading producer of food-grade ethanol, to discuss current partnerships and the future of ethanol production and demand in Indonesia.
The delegation then traveled to Vietnam, where they held meetings with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance to explore further cooperation in expanding ethanol use. Private sector leaders also participated in discussions about the potential for local ethanol markets and the benefits U.S. producers could bring to Vietnam’s ethanol industry, including economic, environmental, and public health advantages.
“The Council, along with our members and partners, is fully committed to supporting Indonesia, Vietnam, and the entire Southeast Asia region in achieving their economic, health, and climate goals with ethanol,” said LeGrand. “The U.S. ethanol industry is well-equipped to meet the growing demand for affordable, sustainable biofuels in Southeast Asia and beyond.”
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