JAKARTA – The ministry of energy and mineral resources (MEMR) reported that the government will conduct an application test program of the palm oil-based biodiesel 40% (B40) for non-automotive industries this year.

Edi Wibowo, Director of Bioenergy at the MEMR directorate general of new and renewable energy and energy conservation (EBTKE), said that the non-automotive industries will include trains, ships, and heavy equipment units. “This year we plan B40 application test for non-automotive sectors, such as trains, ships, and industrial heavy equipment. We’ll involve a team of LEMIGAS and other related stakeholders,” he said at the office building of the MEMR in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Edi said that they are now in an administration process before implementing the application test. “We’re still in an administration process. But hopefully we’ll soon do it this year,” he said.

According to him, the application test program for the non-automotive industries will last for about 8 months. After that, they will conduct an evaluation of the test, which will then become the basis for the government to provide incentives and ensure the availability of palm oil supply.

“It will need 6-8 months, then we’ll evaluate the test results. Based on our evaluation the government will consider to give incentives and ensure the availability of CPO supply for the B40 production,” he said.

Edi said that they had conducted the same test of B40 for land transportation modes and found no problem whatsoever. Based on the test result they will continue with the same test for non-automotive industries.

Previously, in February 2023 the government had started the B35 program, which is the blending of 35% biodiesel from palm oil with fossil diesel fuel. But it has been only implemented fully since August 2023.  The B35 program has become a model for other countries in producing biodiesel.

It was also seen as a reflection of the previous success of Indonesia in implementing B30 program, which is the mixture of 30% fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) from palm oil and 70% fossil diesel fuel.

The implementation of mandatory B35 program is expected to save foreign exchange at US$10.75 billion, increase added value of downstream palm oil products by Rp16.76 trillion, and reduce greenhouse gas emission at 34.9 million tons of CO2. (*)

Source: sawitkita.id