Good Or Bad News? ESDM Minister Arifin Tasrif Says There Will Be BioAvtur After B30

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif revealed that biodiesel development will not stop at B30 alone, because the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources plans to increase the blending rate even higher by applying green fuel.

"Currently a comprehensive study is being carried out, including preparing a techno-economic study, regulatory framework, incentive facilities, infrastructure, setting product quality standards, and developing supporting industries," he said at the 3rd Palm Oil Biodiesel Conference, which is a series of ETWG (Energy Energy) events. Transition Working Group) G20, Thursday 24 March.

The government has also succeeded in conducting flight tests using 2.4 percent bioavtur as an effort to reduce emissions in the aviation sector.

"Regarding the concern of The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to reduce emissions in the international aviation sector, the government and relevant stakeholders have successfully conducted flight tests using 2.4 percent bioavtur. This adds to our trust and enthusiasm to encourage the commercialization of bioavtur," added Arifin.

In the future, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will implement sustainability indicators, namely economic, social and environmental indicators. For 2022, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will start implementing voluntary biodiesel sustainability indicators on the downstream side.

"We hope that in the near future this biodiesel sustainability indicator can be applied, both upstream and downstream," said Arifin.

Biodiesel as a reliable alternative to fossil fuels has become a strategic role because it has a positive influence in various aspects.

Arifin explained that biofuels produced from renewable sources provide added value through downstreaming the domestic agricultural industry, stabilize Crude Palm Oil (CPO) prices, improve the welfare of small farmers, produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels, reduce fuel consumption. imports, saves the country's foreign exchange and trade balance, provides employment opportunities, and maintains energy security.

"We believe that the need for palm oil-based biodiesel is very large, the market is large and will continue to grow," he concluded.