LEMIGAS Prepares Tests For The Use Of Biodiesel Fuel B40 On Trains

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has prepared a test for the use of biodiesel B40 fuel, which is a mixture of diesel fuel (BBM) with 40 percent of vegetable fuel (BBN), on rail transportation modes.

Head of LEMIGAS of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mustafid Gunawan, in his statement in Jakarta, quoted by Antara, Monday, May 20, said the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in 2024 would conduct a B40 biodiesel terap test for several sectors outside the automotive sector.

According to him, the B40 terap test was carried out for trains, ships, agricultural tools and machinery (alsintan), heavy equipment, to power plants.

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has planned that the trial of the non-tomotive sector will be carried out in a span of eight months.

Mustafid explained that as one of the stages in the terap test, LEMIGAS, as a testing unit under the Directorate General of Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, was active in carrying out joint inspections with PT KAI (Persero), PT Pertamina Patra Logistics, and KA Logistics at Depo Arjawinangun, Cirebon, West Java, on May 14, 2024.

According to him, at the test stage, LEMIGAS conducted an infrastructure development survey in preparation for the B40 biodiesel use test in the railway sector.

"Armed with their experts, the survey went smoothly," said Mustafid.

Previously, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources had set a quota for the distribution of B35 biodiesel, which is a solar oil mix with 35 percent of palm oil-based BBN, amounting to 13.41 million kiloliters in 2024.

The quota was determined based on the success of the distribution of the B35 biodiesel program throughout 2023.