Tripatra Supports the Government to Strengthen the Development of POME for SAF Indonesia

Photo: Dok. Tripatra

JAKARTA - PT Tripatra Engineering (TRIPATRA), as a leader in the sustainable energy services sector, in recent years has embarked on a journey to increase its focus on new renewable energy projects, including Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) or sustainable aviation fuel.

As a form of support for the government in realizing the national commitment to reduce emissions from the transportation industry - especially in the aviation sector, TRIPATRA is proud to be part of the ICAO CAEP/14 Global Study on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for POME-HEFA (Palm Oil Mill Effluent-Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) based in Indonesia. From the results of the study, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has listed Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) as a raw material for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in the official document "CORSIA Default Life Cycle Emissions Values for CORSIA Eligible Fuels".

This study was submitted by the Directorate General of Air Transportation, Ministry of Transportation with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with a team of experts from TRIPATRA together with IPOSS (Indonesia Palm Oil Stategic Studies), The submission process of POME started since November 2024, including field data collection at palm oil mills (PKS), preparation of working papers for ICAO Working Group 5, and technical discussions with various member countries. POME is submitted as a residue of the palm oil processing process that does not have the burden of Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC), so it is considered to meet the ICAO sustainability criteria for the HEFA pathway.

After a one-year technical evaluation process, by comparing it with academic studies from Hasselt University and verification by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), POME obtained a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) value of 18.1 gCO₂e/MJ, which shows lower emissions than conventional jet fuel. This value can then be used as a default value in the CORSIA scheme for SAF producers around the world.

Raymond Rasfuldi, President Director & CEO, Tripatra said, the palm oil industry's liquid waste, which has the potential to generate methane emissions, can also be converted into a sustainable aviation fuel SAF with lower emissions, as has been recognized by ICAO.

"This approach illustrates the application of a circular economy where industrial waste is processed into high-value energy products that provide economic benefits while reducing environmental impacts. Through involvement in international studies in the development of POME in Indonesia, Tripatra confirms its commitment and position as a catalyst for cross-sector collaboration in building a SAF ecosystem and supporting Indonesia's vision towards a sustainable and competitive energy transition. In addition, the results also show Tripatra's strategic role as a developer of POME-based SAF that contributes directly to the decarbonization efforts of the national transportation and energy sectors," he said in a written statement, Tuesday, December 17.

In recent years, the global aviation industry has been under great pressure to reduce its large-scale emissions to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Moreover, according to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the aviation industry is responsible for about 3 percent of total global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. These emissions come from the burning of fossil fuels by aircraft, which produce greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2 and nitrogen oxides (NOx).

As an effort for the aviation sector and the world's sustainable energy transition, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) through the CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) scheme has initiated concrete steps to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, one of which is by encouraging the use of SAF for international flights. This is important, considering that SAF can be the main solution to decarbonize aviation because it can be used directly (drop-in fuel) without the need for aircraft engine or airport infrastructure modifications.

In addition, SAF can also be produced from various renewable raw materials, one of which is from POME. Moreover, the availability of palm oil is abundant in Indonesia so that it can make POME a potential raw material for SAF, both to meet national and global needs.

Quoted from a press release issued by the Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia Directorate General of Air Transportation, Director General of Air Transportation, Lukman F Laisa conveyed that Indonesia as an ICAO member country is committed to becoming one of the main producers of SAF given the large potential of raw materials (feedstock) that we have. Therefore, we propose a default LCA value calculation.

"This ICAO approval confirms that POME is officially recognized as a SAF feedstock with very competitive emission values, capable of providing emission savings of up to 80% compared to fossil fuels. This is a big momentum for Indonesia to enter the global SAF market," he explained.

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Lukman added that this success was the result of collaborative work. "We are grateful for the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the technical contributions of Tripatra and IPOSS. This cross-institutional effort shows Indonesia's strong commitment to fighting for a national position in international forums."

With more than 50 years of experience in energy projects, Tripatra has invested significant resources to develop the necessary technology and infrastructure in the biofuel ecosystem in Indonesia, including in producing SAF.

"Tripatra believes that strengthening the national biofuel industry is the key to achieving long-term energy independence and environmental sustainability. With the support and strong synergy from various parties, we are optimistic that Indonesia can become a key player in the development of renewable energy, especially the SAF industry ecosystem," concluded Raymond.