MARKET DEVELOPMENT
Pushing for Aviation Biofuel
Pushing for Aviation Biofuel
26/10/2015 (GIVnews.com) – All airline companies operating in Indonesia will be obliged to use aviation biofuel for their aircraft instead of avtur from 2018 onwards, which aims to help reduce air pollution, Minister of Transportation Ignasius Jonan said in Washington last Friday (23/10).
According to the minister, the government had planned to produce aviation biofuel from palm oil or water hyacinth as raw materials, the supply of which is abundant in Indonesia.
Indonesia is the world’s largest palm oil producer and the second largest producer of certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO). This means that Indonesia’s palm oil has been independently audited and found to comply with globally agreed environmental standards.
Minister Jonan, who had arrived in the United States ahead of President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo, last Friday witnessed the signing of an agreement between the Indonesian and US government to jointly conduct a special study on palm oil-based aviation fuel. Signing the agreement were Suprasetyo, Indonesia’s Director General of Air Transportation and Michael G Whitaker, deputy head of the US Federation of Aviation Administration, Detik.com reported.
Minister Jonan, however, did not say when the study will start and how long it will take for completion.
Jonan admits that in 2018 the volume of aviation biofuel to be produced and available in Indonesia will still be limited. However, its volumes will continue to increase in the following years, according to the minister.
Currently, state oil and gas firm PT. Pertamina produces what is called ‘biosolar’, a mix of biofuel (10%) and diesel fuel (90%). The percentage of the biofuel element has increased quite slowly over the past years. Under President Jokowi’s leadership the biofuel portion in the aviation fuel is expected to increase rapidly.
According to the minister, the government had planned to produce aviation biofuel from palm oil or water hyacinth as raw materials, the supply of which is abundant in Indonesia.
Indonesia is the world’s largest palm oil producer and the second largest producer of certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO). This means that Indonesia’s palm oil has been independently audited and found to comply with globally agreed environmental standards.
Minister Jonan, who had arrived in the United States ahead of President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo, last Friday witnessed the signing of an agreement between the Indonesian and US government to jointly conduct a special study on palm oil-based aviation fuel. Signing the agreement were Suprasetyo, Indonesia’s Director General of Air Transportation and Michael G Whitaker, deputy head of the US Federation of Aviation Administration, Detik.com reported.
Minister Jonan, however, did not say when the study will start and how long it will take for completion.
Jonan admits that in 2018 the volume of aviation biofuel to be produced and available in Indonesia will still be limited. However, its volumes will continue to increase in the following years, according to the minister.
Currently, state oil and gas firm PT. Pertamina produces what is called ‘biosolar’, a mix of biofuel (10%) and diesel fuel (90%). The percentage of the biofuel element has increased quite slowly over the past years. Under President Jokowi’s leadership the biofuel portion in the aviation fuel is expected to increase rapidly.