Jakarta – Various researches in Indonesia and Europe have shown that the use of biodiesel from palm oil as a replacement of diesel fuel can reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from diesel machines at around 50 – 60 percent.

Even the European Commission reported that using the biodiesel from palm oil that is produced from palm oil mills with methane capture can reduce the emissions of greenhouse gas up to 62 percent.

A research conducted by Mathews and Ardyanto (2015) also supported the finding of the European Union (EU) that the use of biodiesel from palm oil as a replacement of diesel fuel can reduce the greenhouse gas emissions more than 60 percent.

The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions due to the use of palm oil-based biodiesel is higher than the reduction of such emissions from other biodiesel derived from rapeseed oil, soybean oil and sunflower oil.

That means replacing diesel fuel with biodiesel from palm oil will result in a much higher reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as compared to rapeseed, soybean and sunflower.

During last year meeting of energy ministers of the G20 member countries, the energy ministers had reached a joint communiqué called the platform of Circular Carbon Economy (CCE).

Based on the CCE Platform, the G20 energy ministers agreed that biodiesel is one of important components to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions through technology and innovation (reduce element), and neutralizing the carbon emissions through natural process and decomposition (recycle element).

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif said that Indonesia has been trying to develop its self-sufficiency and sovereignty in national energy by pushing up the production and consumption of biofuel. One of the innovations to increase the biodiesel production is the implementation of the biodiesel 30% (B30) in transportation sector, which is estimated to reduce emissions at 16.9 million tons of CO2e. “The B30 mandatory program is one of Indonesia’s contributions to the global actions of reducing the greenhouse gas emissions,” said  Minister Arifin.

He also noted that Indonesia has managed to create own effective catalyst that has enabled the state-owned energy company PT Pertamina to produce biodiesel 100 percent or green diesel (D-100) from palm oil. (*)

Source: Gatra.com | Featured image via crudepalmoil.id