Following the successful production of D100 at its Dumai refinery, the company said it expected to produce 1,000 b/d.
Indonesia raised the biodiesel content in diesel to 30% (B30) in 2019 from 20% (B20) in 2019 previously and plans to gradually increase the blend to 100%.
“This test shows that our refinery and catalysts are ready. Next, we need to think about how to make the economic side work too,” said Pertamina CEO Nicke Widyawati, according to Reuters in a statement.
In Indonesia, the world's largest producer of palm oil, biodiesel was produced using fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) from palm oil, the company said. Reuters . However, efforts to increase FAME concentrations in biodiesel were resisted by users as higher blends required special handling and equipment.
Instead of using crude palm oil to create FAME and blending it with regular diesel, D100 processes refined, bleached and deodorized palm oil directly in its refinery using catalytic cracking and hydrogen gas, Pertamina's statement said.
Indonesia's biodiesel program is a key part of the government's strategy to absorb excess palm oil supplies and reduce expensive fuel imports.
In May, Indonesia said it was likely to delay plans to increase the biodiesel blending mandate to 40%.
In a June 16 report, the Reuters said the country's plans to produce fuel made entirely from palm oil have been delayed by three years, from 2023 to 2026, due to research and investment plans disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: OFI Magazine
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