JAKARTA – The government has been consistently implementing the biodiesel 30 percent (B30) program. Although not yet applied in all diesel engine vehicles, the program has positively impacted the palm oil industry in Indonesia.
Martias Fangiono, a steering committee member of the oil palm plantation fund management board (BPDPKS), said recently that the government’s consistency in implementing the B30 program will stabilize the price of palm oil. Besides, the program has become a part of Indonesia Incorporated.
“The B30 program provides 17 million job opportunities that will help improve the public welfare,” he said during a virtual discussion with the media recently.
He pointed out that the B30, which is produced by blending diesel fuel with fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) from palm oil, has also reduced Indonesia’s import of diesel fuel. “As a result, it has saved the foreign exchange and helps improve Indonesia’s trade balance and current account,” he said.
The biodiesel production is also the best solution to meet the rising need for oil and to improve the national energy resilience as national production of fossil fuels could not yet meet the local need. Currently, local production of oil reached around 800,000 barrels per day (bpd), but the local need for oil is around 1.5 million barrels per day. “Besides improving the national energy resilience, the B30 program is the best solution to reduce carbon emissions as it is sustainable and environmentally friendly,” he said.
Several brand holder agents (APM) of buses and trucks, such as Hino, Isuzu, and Mercedes-Benz, are ready for the use of B30. They have prepared special machines for the use of the biodiesel.
Meanwhile, state-owned oil-gas company Pertamina has also sold the B30 product in a number of its refueling stations (SPBU), so that it will bring positive impacts to the Indonesian economy, society and environment in Indonesia. (*)
Source: KabarOto.com | Featured image via Kompas.com