Indonesia makes another step toward B50 biodiesel
An official from the Energy Ministry said that Indonesia has completed laboratory tests to prepare for launching B50, a biodiesel with 50% palm oil based biofuel. The country is aiming to implement this biofuel next year.
Biodiesel based on palm oil is currently required to be blended at 40% (B40), but Indonesia wants to raise the blend to reduce its dependence on fossil fuel imports.
In August, the laboratory tests concluded. They involved running an engine with B50 fuel. Edi Wibowo from the Energy Ministry's Bioenergy Director said that officials will now conduct road tests.
He said that based on the results of the tests, he would launch road testing and test on non-automotive machines that run on diesel.
He said that the timing of the road tests was yet to be determined.
In August, a senior official from the energy ministry said that Indonesia plans to make B50 compulsory in 2026. However, it is unlikely to occur in January.
According to data from the energy ministry, adopting B50 requires 20.1 million kilolitres (KL) of palm oil-based biofuel per year, compared with 15.6 millions KL for B40. (Reporting and writing by Bernadette Cristina Munthe, Fransiska Naangoy, Editing by Neil Fullick).
(source: Reuters)
