JAKARTA: Indonesia on Wednesday began road trials for two types of biodiesel containing 40% palm oil, which are expected to be finished by the end of this year to see if they are viable for public use, the energy ministry said.
The government currently mandates that all diesel sold in the country must contain 30% palm oil, the essential blend in the world.
The world’s largest palm oil producer has a long-term plan to boost the concentration of vegetable oil in fuels for everything from cars to planes to cut fuel imports. Last year, it made its first test flight using jet fuel mixed with palm oil. Recently, officials have also been pushing for a higher ratio to absorb the excess palm oil supply.
The fuels to be tested over the next few months are diesel blended with 40% fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), called B40, and B30D10, a diesel with 30% FAME, is refined bleached and mixed with 10% FAME made from green diesel. Odorless palm oil (RBDPO).
They will be tested on 12 of the most popular passenger car models and commercial vehicles over 50,000 km (31,000 mi) and 40,000 km, respectively, said Dadan Kusiana, head of the Ministry of Renewable Energy. Officials said each car would be thoroughly examined during and after the test to review the fuel’s effect on everything from engine power, torque and fuel consumption to emissions levels.
Officials previously said B35 biodiesel would be sold to the public this month, but that has been delayed indefinitely. Dadan said a separate B35 laboratory test would be conducted soon.
The government expects to consume at least 10.15 million kiloliters of biodiesel in 2022, and B40 is expected to increase total biodiesel consumption to 3.5 million kiloliters per year.
Indonesia’s current production capacity is 18 million kiloliters of biodiesel and 120,000 tons of green diesel.
