Balikpapan, E Kalimantan (ANTARA) – The Indonesian government plans to halt aviation fuel imports starting in 2027 as part of its energy self-sufficiency drive, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia said on Monday.“God willing, we will stop importing aviation fuel by 2027. Under President Prabowo Subianto’s directive, the government will only import crude oil,” Lahadalia said during the inauguration of the Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP) project in Balikpapan City, East Kalimantan.He said the policy represents another step toward national energy self-reliance by reducing dependence on imported fuel products.The government also plans to end imports of CN48 diesel fuel starting this year, Lahadalia said, adding that state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina has been instructed to build facilities to cut imports of CN51 diesel fuel in the second half of 2026.Lahadalia acknowledged that the no-import policy could trigger criticism, including online claims that it may negatively affect companies involved in fuel imports.The minister delivered the remarks during the inauguration of the Refinery Development Master Plan project, which revitalized and expanded Refinery Unit V in Balikpapan into Indonesia’s largest petroleum production facility. The project was officially inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto.With an investment of around US$7.4 billion, the project – the first major refinery development in 32 years – increased the refinery’s daily processing capacity from 260,000 to 360,000 barrels of low-sulfur fuel, in line with the European Union’s Euro 5 emission standards.The project also raised the refinery’s Nelson Complexity Index from 3.7 to 8 and increased the yield of high-value products from 75.3 percent to 91.8 percent.“With the Balikpapan RDMP refinery now in operation, Indonesia is expected to reduce its dependence on imported fuel and liquefied petroleum gas while producing more environmentally friendly products that meet Euro 5 standards,” Lahadalia said.