The Emergence Of Bobibos, Innovation Or Sensation?

Bobibos fuel was introduced to the public in Jonggol, Bogor, West Java, Tuesday (11/11/2025). (Special)

JAKARTA The public is talking about Bobibos, a product that is claimed to be biofuel with an octane value of up to 98 percent. However, there are concerns that Bobibos will only become a sensation like his predecessors.

Bobibos is short for Bahar Original Material Made in Indonesia Bos, which was developed by Ikhlas Thamrin, alumni of the Faculty of Law, Sebelas Maret University (UNS) Solo.

This innovation product was introduced to the public by PT Inti Sinergi Formula in Jonggol, Bogor Regency, West Java, on Tuesday (11/11).

Since then, residents have been talking about Bobibos. He said, fuel is environmentally friendly. In addition, this innovation is also claimed to be able to open up economic opportunities in agricultural areas such as West Java. But not a few are skeptical because these products have not been tested.

Bobibos fuel is an organic fuel oil made of plants or biofuels. In this case, the plants used are straw, which is agricultural waste which has often only been burned after harvest.

Bobibos is said to be one of the alternative energy solutions that is environmentally friendly and sustainable. Ikhlas Thamrin admitted that he had been doing research on Bobibos since 2014. According to him, this product can be an alternative in the midst of scarcity issues and high fuel prices in Indonesia.

"Padi is a much-needed food commodity. The rest, namely straw, can be used for Bobibos raw materials," said Ikhlas Thamrin.

Based on the results of laboratory testing, Bobibos fuel has an octan level close to Research Octane Number (RON) 98 or equivalent to Pertamina's fuel.

Djoko Suprapto demonstrated the use of water fuel for diesel engines in Ngadiboyo, Nganjuk, East Java, Thursday (18/6/2008). (ANTARA/Arief Priyono/ss/pd/08)

In the midst of this sensation, West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi gave full support to PT Inti Sinergi Formula, a fuel producer of Bobibos.

"Greetings @bobibos_, we are working together," said Dedi Mulyadi in the upload description column on his personal Instagram video, Wednesday (12/11).

The former Regent of Purwakarta even encouraged the creation of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between fuel creators and investors. Bobibos' presence is claimed to be able to open up massive economic opportunities in agricultural areas, such as West Java.

Reportedly, one hectare of rice fields can produce 3,000 liters of Bobibos. If this is true, farmers will get multiplied income, namely during harvest and Jerami waste which is processed into Bobibos.

The existence of Bobibos has now attracted the attention of lecturers at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the Directorate of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) Tri Yuswidjajanto Zaenuri. He encouraged the public to remain careful in fuel problems, including the emergence of Bobibos.

He assessed that alternative fuel claims must be tested by the government through the Center for Oil and Gas Testing or Lemigas so that it is safe for the public to use.

The tests carried out can involve suitability with fuel specifications, simulator test, dyno test which measures the performance of vehicle engines with alternative fuels.

"People must be careful in fuel problems like this," said Tri.

According to him, fermented Jerami waste can produce ethanol whose octane value reaches 110-120. Meanwhile, mixed materials can reduce the value of octan ethanol, for example using low RON gasoline.

"There are still many questions, we'll just have to wait for developments," Tri said.

Talking about alternative energy, Bobibos is not the first to appear to the public. In Indonesia, an alternative fuel scene has occurred at least twice, namely Blue Energy and Niku Banyu (Nikuba). However, both ended unfavorable.

Blue Energy fuel was found by Djoko Suprapto in 2008. He claimed to be an alumnus of the Faculty of Electric Engineering, Gadjah Mada University (UGM). At that time, Djoko admitted that he was able to create electricity only from water. Blue Energy can be used as an alternative fuel to replace diesel, gasoline, or kerosene.

Djoko's findings received support from the government of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and were even exhibited on the Jakarta-Bali expedition ahead of the United Nation Framework Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC) December 2007 in Bali.

Djoko's innovation is planned to be mass produced with a production capacity of 10 liters per second or equivalent to 5 thousand barrels per day. The plan, this discovery called Blue Energy will be enjoyed by the general public around April 2008. If successful, this product will be sold for around Rp. 3,000 per liter.

Djoko's innovation got into trouble when he presented a power plant that could produce electricity without stopping forever to UGM. He was unable to prove the claim, and the campus declared the proposal a fraud and tried to warn many parties not to believe Djoko's idea. But it was too late because the idea was trusted by the palace team.

This case brought Djoko to court and he was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison in January 2009.

The alternative energy burst again in May 2022. This time Aryanto Misel introduced Nikuba Hydrogen, a tool that is claimed to convert water into hydrogen and can be used as fuel. Through his social media, Aryanto said that an average drop of water can be used to run a motorbike for 45-50 kilometers.

He also claimed to have used 1 liter of water to travel Cirebon-Semarang back and forth. Aryanto admitted that his findings received the attention of several global automotive companies such as Ferrari and Lamborghini.

Nikuba is even claimed to be used by Kodim and Koramil Wekabang. But the sensation of Nikuba then dimmed because Aryanto as the inventor never wanted to reveal his research results or publish them in scientific journals.

Will Bobibos' appearance really be an innovation, or will he follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, just a sensation?