Jakarta-Indonesia will begin road trials of two biodiesels containing 40 percent palm oil on Wednesday and hopes to conclude by the end of the year whether they are publicly viable, the Ministry of Energy said. rice field.
The government now requires that all diesel sold domestically contain 30% palm oil. This is the highest forced blend in the world.
The world’s largest producer of palm oil has long-term plans to increase the concentration of vegetable oil in the fuel of everything from cars to planes so that fuel imports can be reduced. Last year, we conducted our first test flight using jet fuel mixed with palm oil. Recently, authorities have also demanded a higher percentage to absorb the excess palm oil supply.
Fuels tested over the next few months are diesel mixed with 40% fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) called B40, and refined, bleached, and deodorized palm oil (RBDPO).
According to the ministry’s head of renewable energy, Dadan Kusdiana, these will be tested on 12 of the most popular passenger car models and commercial vehicles, over 50,000 km (31,000 miles) and 40,000 km, respectively.
“We’ve improved the fuel specifications to make it better than the B30,” he said of biodiesel with 30% palm oil.
Efforts to increase the FAME concentration of biodiesel complain that special handling and equipment is required as the fuel has a solvent effect that can corrode engine seals and gasket materials and can solidify at low temperatures. Faced with resistance from users who say.
Thoroughly check each vehicle during and after the test run to see how fuel affects everything from engine power, torque, fuel consumption to emission levels.
Authorities had previously stated that the B35 biodiesel would be generally available this month, but this has been postponed indefinitely. Dadan said another B35 lab test will be conducted soon.
The government expects to consume at least 10.15 million kiloliters of biodiesel in 2022, and the B40 is expected to increase up to 3.5 million kiloliters of biodiesel consumption annually.
Indonesia’s current production capacity is 18 million kiloliters of biodiesel and 120,000 metric tons of green diesel.
By Bernadette Christina
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