President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono must publicly explain the mystery behind the so-called "Blue Energy" project, which he promoted at last year's UN climate change conference in Bali, lawmakers said Friday.

Several House of Representatives members said they would use their right to summon the President to clarify the Blue Energy project, which aimed to create fuel from water.

"It has become a scandal, probably an international scandal that has embarrassed the country, because 'fuel' resulting from the Blue Energy project was exhibited at the Bali climate change conference," said legislator Alvin Lie of the National Mandate Party.

He demanded the government make it clear what was happening with Blue Energy, and whether it was a viable project or a hoax.

No news has been heard about the project since the inventor disappeared before reappearing almost two weeks later in the hospital, he said.

"At least three factions in the House have agreed to ask the government to explain the scandal.

"We need to know to what extent the President is involved in it, and even if the Rp 10 billion for the project was contributed by a private company. We need to know what the catch is," Alvin said.

Blue Energy was the work of a Joko Suprapto, who claimed to have created fuel from water.

Joko, who has been labeled a charlatan by some observers, managed to secure a meeting with the President, who was eager to pursue the project.

Many scientists and lawmakers have since dismissed the so-called invention as a hoax, saying Yudhoyono was cheated by Joko, who never published articles about his claimed Blue Energy in scientific journals.

Leaders and scientists of Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta dismissed Joko as a fake, saying his scientific claims were unsubstantiated.

They also said information provided by Joko about himself and his work turned out to be false.

The university turned away Joko when he approached officials there in 2006 to seek their endorsement for Blue Energy.

"It is impossible to turn water into fuel," Wega Tri Sunaryati, an energy expert with the university, said Friday.

When asked whether Yudhoyono was deceived by Joko, presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng said Friday the President always encouraged emerging technologies and alternative energies, including the so-called Blue Energy.

"The President is always open-minded about inventions by people. Many people have come to him to give presentations on their inventions," Andi said.

State Secretary Hatta Radjasa said the President was always open to suggestions and new ideas.

Neither Andi or Hatta would comment on experts' claims that the Blue Energy project was a hoax.

Political observers have criticized the presidential staff for allowing people such as Joko to secure meetings with the President without prior proper screening.

Slamet Susanto contributed to this story from Yogyakarta.

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