Naturfuel goes on market<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Owners of diesel-engine vehicles can now contribute to a cleaner
\nand healthier environment, as an alternative source of fuel, said
\nto be more environmentally friendly, has entered the market.<\/p>\n
PT Energi Alternatif Indonesia started distributing on Tuesday
\nits biodiesel fuel, Naturfuel, to the public via four major gas
\nstations at: Soekarno-Hatta International airport, Tangerang;
\nSentul, Bogor; Daan Mogot, West Jakarta; and Mal Lippo Karawaci,
\nTangerang.<\/p>\n
\"We are selling the fuel in packages while we await permission
\nfrom the Oil and Gas Upstream Regulatory Agency to dispense the
\nproduct through gas pumps,\" Energi Alternatif director Bambang
\nTribudiman said.<\/p>\n
Unlike diesel fuel, which is made from crude oil, biodiesel
\nfuel is made from plant seeds refined through a chemical process.<\/p>\n
Bambang said about 40 types of plants could be used to produce
\nbiodiesel, such as oil palms and castor-oil plants.<\/p>\n
He added the firm had invested Rp 500 million (US$54,436) over
\nthe past year in a factory located in Tanjung Priok, which had a
\nproduction capacity of 500 kilograms of fuel per day. The company
\nis also assembling a new processor with a daily production
\ncapacity of two tons of biodiesel fuel.<\/p>\n
\"At present, we're selling our biodiesel to some big companies
\nlike Panasonic Manufacturing and Kramayudha, each of which buys
\nabout 2,000 liters of fuel every two months,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The biodiesel is costs Rp 17,000 per two-liter package.
\nBambang said the price was high because of the high cost of raw
\nmaterials as well as packaging, labeling and marketing.<\/p>\n
\"But starting next year, we're going to use castor beans,
\nwhich are far cheaper,\" he said, which would lower the price to
\nRp 2,500 per liter.<\/p>\n
Subsidized diesel fuel for the public costs Rp 1,650, while
\nnon-subsidized diesel for industries costs around Rp 2,500.<\/p>\n
Research conducted by the company, supported by the Agency for
\nthe Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) and the
\nOffice of the State Minister of the Environment, has shown that
\nbiodiesel fuel reduces soot and gas emissions, which have been
\nfound to cause a number of diseases, such as respiratory
\nailments.<\/p>\n
\"(Biodiesel) contains trace sulfur and a harmless level of
\noxygen, which means almost complete combustion and thus less
\nsmoke and gas emissions,\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
The World Fuel Charter, however, recommends biodiesel as a 5
\npercent additive to diesel fuel for compatibility with engine and
\nvehicle specifications, he added.<\/p>\n
Besides Energi Alternatif Indonesia, the BPPT will also
\noperate a biodiesel production facility in the province of Riau,
\nand has just completed assembling processors with a daily
\nproduction capacity of eight tons.<\/p>\n
The Riau government is in discussions with oil company Caltex
\nand pulp company PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper over supplying
\nthem with biodiesel.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/naturfuel-goes-on-market-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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