Ministry Of Energy And Mineral Resources Prepares Biodiesel Concept To B100

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia. (Photo: Maria Trisnawati/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia stated that his party is preparing a draft concept for the development of biodiesel fuel to biodiesel 100 (B100) as an effort to realize energy self-sufficiency.

"One of the designs that was carried out was to prepare all the concepts up to B100, but of course it was gradual, later we will report (the development)," said Bahlil Lahadalia as quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, November 3.

Now, the biodiesel product that must be used in Indonesia is B35, which is a mixture of 35 percent Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) from palm oil and 65 percent of diesel fuel, whose implementation starts on February 1, 2023.

The government also continues to perfect advanced biodiesel products by increasing the proportion of palm oil to 40 percent, or often called B40.

The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources also ensured that B40 products were ready to be used and the mandatory B40 use program was ready to be implemented on January 1, 2025.

"God willing (implemented January 1, 2025), (the B40 product) has been tested and ready for implementation," he said.

Previously, the Director General of New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Eniya Listiani Dewi, stated that she was ready to implement the mandatory biodiesel B40 in early January 2025.

He said his party was preparing a number of supporting infrastructure such as ports, shipping, and logistics for the smooth implementation of the mandatory bioenergy targeted for completion preparations in December 2024.

"It takes a lot to prepare for the rich ports, the delivery, logistics. The industry must prepare, investment needs capital as well," he said.

In addition to focusing on B40, the government is also reviewing the possibility of implementing biodiesel B50.

Eniya said that technical studies related to machine performance with the use of B50 had been carried out.

The B50 biodiesel implementation trial has been carried out by the Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman in South Kalimantan.