Sumber: Detik.com | 19 Oktober 2025

The government's plan to introduce a 10% ethanol blend (E10) is considered a significant breakthrough in the national energy transition effort. In addition to potentially reducing carbon emissions, this policy also opens up opportunities for the automotive and energy industries to adapt to the green fuel era.

Automotive observer and national rally driver Sunny Boy Hutabarat believes Indonesia's move towards using ethanol fuel represents a new chapter in the nation's automotive history.

"From the perspective of an observer, automotive enthusiast, and rally driver, I see this policy as a positive transformation. We are always being urged to move towards green energy for a better future for the environment," said Sunny in Jakarta on Sunday (10/19/2025).

Menurutnya, penggunaan bahan bakar E10 bukan hanya ramah lingkungan, tetapi juga memiliki manfaat teknis dalam hal kualitas pembakaran.

"The combustion is cleaner. If combustion is cleaner, carbon emissions from vehicles will automatically decrease," he explained.

Sunny menjelaskan, secara teknis bahan bakar beretanol memiliki karakteristik berbeda dibanding bensin murni. Meski konsumsi bahan bakar sedikit lebih tinggi, hasil pembakarannya lebih bersih karena kandungan oksigen di dalam etanol lebih besar.

"I've used E10 in Europe, and the throttle response is very smooth. It's just like regular gasoline, even smoother," he added.

Ia mencontohkan, di negara-negara seperti Eropa, Amerika Serikat, India, dan Thailand, penggunaan bahan bakar campuran etanol sudah menjadi hal umum - bahkan mencapai kadar E20 hingga E85. Karena itu, ia menilai sosialisasi yang masif penting agar masyarakat tidak salah persepsi.

"We must support this energy transformation. Don't view ethanol as a threat, but as a solution for Indonesia's energy future," he emphasized.

Indonesia's move towards E10 aligns with the clean energy transition policy currently being implemented by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).

Pemerintah menargetkan peningkatan bauran energi baru terbarukan (EBT) sekaligus mengurangi ketergantungan pada impor bahan bakar fosil. Program E10 menjadi bagian dari agenda energi nasional yang bukan sekadar persoalan teknologi, tetapi juga visi jangka panjang menuju kedaulatan energi dan keberlanjutan lingkungan.