Becoming NRE Development Priority, B30 Ready for Implementation Early Next Year

THE MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES

PRESS RELEASE

NUMBER: 636.Pers/04/SJI/2019

Dated: 1st November 2019

Becoming NRE Development Priority, B30 Ready for Implementation Early Next Year

Holding office as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (EMR), Arifin Tasrif will optimize New, Renewable Energy (NRE) potential that Indonesia has. For example, biodiesel utilization is a priority to accelerate the national NRE mix through the B30 mandatory (a blend of 30% biodiesel and diesel oil), to be implemented early next year.

"B30 is ready, this is just (to ensure) supply, ready to be adopted," Arifin confirmed at the Ministry of EMR, Jakarta (1/11). As publicly known, the current diesel oil on the market is now blended with 20% biodiesel or commonly called the B20.

Arifin's confirmation cannot be separated from the results of road test of B30 at diesel vehicles. Launched on 3 June 2019, the road test using B30 was conducted at vehicles with weight less than 3.5 ton and at those more than 3.5 ton. The results show that at the below 3.5-ton vehicles, there is no significant difference of vehicle performance whether the vehicles uses B30 or B20 that has been used so far, while for the above 3.5-ton vehicles the road test phases are yet to be completed.

The B30 road test is conducted by the R&D Agency of Ministry of EMR collaborating with other relevant ministries/agencies such as Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS), Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), Indonesian Biofuel Producers Association (APROBI), PT Pertamina (Persero), and Association of Indonesian Motor Vehicle Industry (Gaikindo).

Previously, President Joko Widodo at the Limited Presidential Meeting (Ratas) on Submission of Programs and Activities in Maritime and Investment Field at the President's Office, Jakarta, Wednesday (30/10), reiterated that the new, renewable energy policy must be accelerated in the near future, especially the mandatory of B20 to B30, B50, and B100.

Arifin says that the transformation from one stage to another needs continuous process and evaluation. "We must indeed do it by stepping, in stages. B30, B40, B50--must all be checked their compatibility with usage. We must maintain the quality during transportation, security level. Combustion value and so on or the engine will break," Arifin ended.

Head of Bureau of Communication, Public Information Services, and Cooperation

Share This!