Indonesia Starts Testing B30

Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) is carrying out a road test of fuel with a bio-content of 30% (B30) in cars and trucks. Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan launched the road test di Jakarta, Thursday (13/6/2019). Jonan requested a fully support from all stakeholders to use of B30 that is scheduled to be mandated in 2020. “This trial is not only for the road test but also to show to the people that B30 doesn’t reduce engine performance and will not cost more for engine maintenance,” Jonan said. The road test launch event also had the presence of Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arcandra Tahar, Head of the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) Hammam Riza, President Director of the Indonesia Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) Dono Boestami, Chairman of the Indonesian Biofuel Producers Association (Aprobi) MP Tumanggor, Secretary General of MEMR Ego Syahrial, Director General of Oil and Gas at MEMR Djoko Siswanto, Director General of Electricity at MEMR Rida Mulyana, Director General of Mineral and Coal at MEMR Bambang Gatot Ariyono, Director General of New, Renewable Energy, and Energy Conservation at MEMR Sutijastoto, and Head of Research and Development at MEMR Dadan Kusdiana. B30 is a blend of 30 percent by volume biodiesel with 70 percent by volume petroleum diesel. The test will be conducted over the next four months with various passenger vehicles and trucks to test the engine durability and endurance. The passenger vehicles will cover 50,000 km and trucks 40,000 km during the road test. Dadan Kusdiana told reporters that passanger cars will travel 560 km per day passing through Lembang - Cileunyi - Nagreg - Kuningan - Tol Babakan - Slawi - Guci - Tegal - Tol Cipali - Subang - Lembang. “Meanwhile trucks will cover 350 km per day passing through Lembang - Karawang - Cipali - Subang - Lembang,` he said. The road test is organized by Research and Development at MEMR and funded by BPDPKS in collaboration with Research and Development Center for Oil and Gas Technology (Lemigas), Centre for Fuels Technology and Engineering at BPPT, and Center for Thermodynamics Engines and Propulsion at BPPT. BPDPKS also collaborated with the Center for Research and Development of Electricity, New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Technology at the MEMR. The ministry also plans to start testing trains, ships and heavy machinery in the mining sector using the fuel. President Director of BPDPKS Dono Boestami told reporter that financial support provided by BPDPKS is not only for the road test but also for the implementation of B30 mandatory program as a whole. “It`s just the beginning of the implementiation of B30 mandatory program in 2020. BPDPKS stands ready to provide financial support,” Dono said. The road test is also supported by PT Pertamina (Persero) dan Aprobi that provide fuels and by The Association of Indonesia Automotive Industries (Gaikindo) that provides cars and trucks. ***