JAKARTA - PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) or KAI has expressed its readiness to implement the B50 biodiesel policy in all its services, especially in diesel-based locomotive operations, while still prioritizing safety and service quality aspects.
For information, the government has set the implementation of mandatory B50 biodiesel which will be implemented simultaneously in all sectors in Indonesia starting July 1, 2026. This policy is part of efforts to strengthen national energy sovereignty while encouraging the use of more sustainable energy.
KAI's Vice President of Corporate Communication, Anne Purba, said that her party was conducting a trial of the implementation of B50 on diesel-based locomotive trains.
Anne said KAI also collaborated with the government through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) and LEMIGAS in a series of tests carried out gradually.
"Testing is carried out starting from the fuel mixing process in mid-April 2026, followed by checking the condition of the facilities, to testing the use of fuel on locomotives at Depo Sidotopo," he said in an official statement, Thursday, April 23.
In parallel, Anne continued, testing was also carried out on the generating train at the Yogyakarta Train Depot, ranging from initial inspections, the use of B40 as a benchmark, to the use of B50 to measure the performance of facilities, including in high load conditions.
Anne said that the next stage in the form of long-term testing was also prepared to ensure that the performance of the facility remained optimal in daily operations. Until now, all test results are still in the evaluation stage and continue to be monitored to ensure long-term suitability.
"KAI ensures that this accelerated implementation process is in line with readiness in the field. Through collaboration with the government and testing carried out gradually, we are committed to providing safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation services," said Anne.
In addition, Anne said the implementation of B50 is a continuation of the use of biodiesel which had previously been implemented gradually in the railway sector.
"KAI continues to use more environmentally friendly energy through biodiesel. In every stage, the safety of travel and the quality of service to customers remains the top priority," said Anne.
In February 2025, Anne continued, the use of B40 biodiesel in the Long-Distance Train service recorded a total carbon emission of 127,315,192 kg CO₂e or about 127,3 thousand tons from 47.4 million customers.
Entering 2026, the sustainability trend continues. Until the first quarter of 2026, the volume of long-distance train customers reached 14,515,350 people with an estimated emission of around 38,900 tons of CO₂e which remained maintained in line with the consistency of the use of biodiesel-based fuel.
On the same scale of mobility, the use of private vehicles has the potential to produce much higher emissions. The average emissions of private vehicle travel reach 36-45 kg CO₂ per passenger for medium distances, while trains are only about 2.7 kg CO₂ per passenger.
Anne said that with this volume of customers, the use of trains is estimated to have contributed to a potential reduction in emissions of around 480 to 610,000 tons of CO₂e compared to when travel is carried out using private vehicles.
"This shows that the use of trains can reduce emissions by about 90 percent per trip," he said.
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