Agreeing With The Government, Experts On Bobibos Values Still Needs A Study And Laboratory Test

JAKARTA - A number of experts assess that the Government's move through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) to conduct eight months of testing of alternative fuel Bobibos is correct. Trials are needed to ensure safety aspects, engine performance, and standard suitability before the fuel can be circulated commercially in the community.

"Yes, of course, because alternative fuel must meet the standards of several parameters, for example on points, RON and so on," said an energy expert who is also a lecturer at the Indonesian Muslim University (UMI) Makassar, Syarifuddin Nojeng during a discussion in South Sulawesi in a statement Wednesday, November 19.

In addition, Syarifuddin explained that Bobibos is included in the bioethenol category, which the government is currently developing through a number of new and renewable energy programs (EBT). He assessed that innovations like this have the potential to encourage a clean energy mix in the transportation sector.

Bobbyibos is a bioethenol group that continues to be developed through the E1 program and beyond, to a viable economic level," he said.

Syarifuddin emphasized that, like the various types of biodiesel that were developed in stages, Bobibos still needed further research before they were really ready to be marketed.

He continued, research is an important factor because bioenergy innovation can contribute directly to the national energy mix target. However, he reminded that the availability of raw materials such as straw or other biomass must still be guaranteed so that the development of Bobibos is sustainable.

"The government must accommodate, especially the results of research from PT or other research institutions. For example, BRIN and research institutions must also collaborate with the private sector so that links and matches occur," he said.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Institute for Public Policy Studies, M. Kafrawy Saenong, assessed that the government's decision to order trials before Bobibos was marketed was the right step. He reminded that the results of independent laboratory tests carried out by Bobibos were not sufficient to ensure the safety of use for the community.

"Is the government's steps right to conduct trials before they are marketed? Yes of course I agree. Because don't let this fuel actually become a disaster for the community (if without a proper trial)," said Kafrawy.

According to him, the government should provide space and support for energy innovations born from within the country, including Bobibos. He said the support was important considering that alternative fuels were needed to reduce dependence on fossil energy.

"Yes, of course, in terms of innovation, of course the government must provide support, yes, and yes, if this is indeed a new fuel, yes, of course this is an encouraging thing," said Kafrawy.

He also asked the public to wait for the results of the official distribution test before drawing conclusions regarding claims to use 100 percent of the straw in Bobibos production. He alluded to the public's bad experience in previous alternative fuel claims that did not produce anything.

"Yes, of course, we don't really want incidents like the fuel that used to be Nikuba or water fuel to be a question mark, because it turns out that the implementation doesn't exist. And once again we are still waiting for an official announcement after there is a distribution test," he said.

Previously, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources emphasized that new fuel products such as Bobibos had to go through a quality test process before being declared suitable for use by the community. The Director General of Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Laode Sulaeman, said the fuel test process was at least eight months.

"But as I explained, to test a fuel and then become fuel, it's at least eight months, then we will decide whether this is feasible or not," said Laode.

He also straightened out the news that the product had obtained certification from Lemigas. According to Laode, until now the developer has just submitted a laboratory test application and the results are still closed.

"So, they proposed a test in our laboratory. But the results of the test are still a secret agreement, meaning it's still closed. I can't say that yet. And if you ask for a test, it means that the results are test results, not certification. I need to straighten this out, so there's no confusion. Yesterday I also got, oh it's been certified. I can clarify here that this has not been certified, "said Laode.