As the largest producer of palm oil in the world advocates for broader use of biofuels to reduce fuel imports, Indonesia conducted its first commercial flight on Friday using jet fuel blended with palm oil.
According to CEO Irfan Setiaputra of flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, the Boeing 737-800NG aircraft carried over 100 passengers from Jakarta’s central region to Surakarta city, which is located approximately 550 kilometers (342 miles) away.
“We intend to have additional discussions with Pertamina, the Energy Ministry, and other relevant parties to guarantee that this fuel is economically viable,” Irfan stated at the event, noting that the aircraft would be landing back in Jakarta later on Friday.
Earlier this month, Garuda tested the new fuel in flight, and in August, it tested the engines on the ground.
Utilizing hydroprocessed esters and fatty acid , HEFA, technology, the Indonesian state energy company PT Pertamina, PERTM.UL, produces the palm-oil blended jet fuel at its Cilacap refinery. It is composed of refined, bleached, and deodorized palm kernel oil.
According to Pertamina, the fuel derived from palm oil emits fewer greenhouse gases into the atmosphere when compared to fossil fuels. Additionally, countries that produce palm oil have advocated for the inclusion of edible oil as feedstock in the production of sustainable aviation fuel , SAF.
“In 2021, Pertamina successfully produced 2.0 SAF in its Cilacap unit using co-processing technology and was made of refined bleached deodorized palm kernel oil with production capacity 1,350 kilolitres per day,” said Alfian Nasution, a Pertamina.
A director at the Energy Ministry named Harris Yahya claimed that using biofuel would lessen the greenhouse effect.
As one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, the aviation sector is searching for ways to reduce its carbon footprint through the use of alternative fuels.
According to experts, the industry will require 450 billion liters of SAF annually by 2050 if the fuel is to provide approximately 65% of the mitigation required to meet net-zero goals.
However, the possibility of deforestation in the process of producing palm oil from plantations has alarmed some nations. The commodity is subject to import restrictions from the European Union.
Indonesia conducted a test flight using the same fuel in 2021, traveling from the West Javan city of Bandung to the nation’s capital, Jakarta, using an aircraft built by the state-owned Dirgantara Indonesia.
The implementation of Indonesia’s mandate, which calls for 3% biofuel blending for jet fuel by 2020, has been delayed.
Crediblenews.ng
