Pertamina Shows Off Bioenergy Breakthroughs from Waste Oil to Sorghum Stems

JAKARTA - PT Pertamina (Persero) ensures that it will always support the government's steps in achieving the 2030 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and the achievement of Net Zero Emissions (NZE) 2060 through various breakthroughs.

SVP Technology Innovation of PT Pertamina (Persero), Oki Muraza said that Pertamina is encouraging the creation of new green-based economic centers through the development of biodiesel and bioethanol energy.

Oki said that currently Pertamina has implemented Bioethanol E5 for Petralite fuel to the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) or Bioavtur Pertamina for airplanes.

"We are trying to produce a lot of biofuels from biodiesel or FAME which has reached 35 percent," he said in Energy Corner quoted on Tuesday, August 6.

Most recently, he said, Pertamina is developing other biofuels such as bioethanol which can be produced from sorghum stems which are widely found in Indonesia.

Oki said that developing sorghum plants can bring additional positive effects to the agricultural sector. He gave an example, sorghum plant grains can be used to reduce food imports. Just so you know, the current amount of Indonesian wheat imports reaches 9.6 million tons. Meanwhile, sorghum stalks will be used as raw materials for bioethanol

"The bioethanol has been demonstrated during GIIAS and we use vehicles that use bioethanol," added Oki.

Finally, sorghum leaves will be used as animal feed which will be useful as an additional source of protein for the community.

Furthermore, Oki said that Pertamina is pursuing the end-of-year target of using fuel from used cooking oil that can be used as aircraft fuel.

"What we are pursuing is the end of this year to pursue sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from used cooking oil that has the potential to clog water channels if thrown away, can be collected and produce SAF," he concluded.