Trial begins for environmentally friendly fuel<\/p>\n
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology
\n(BPPT) began on Monday a trial for a biodiesel fuel, as part of
\nthe government's efforts to promote environmentally friendly
\nenergy.<\/p>\n
The biodiesel fuel, which is made from off-grade-quality crude
\npalm oil (CPO), will be used to operate 23 passenger buses
\nbelonging to the agency.<\/p>\n
\"Fuel security has become an as important issue as food and
\nclean water. We cannot rely on fossil fuels anymore, therefore
\n(we) should develop recyclable fuels, such as biodiesel,\" State
\nMinister for Research and Technology M. Hatta Radjasa said.<\/p>\n
The BPPT began producing biodiesel at its laboratory in
\nSerpong, Banten, last year, and now has a capacity of 1,500
\nliters a day. The agency will soon begin operating a plant in
\nRiau with a capacity of eight tons of biodiesel a day.<\/p>\n
During the trial, each of the BPPT buses will use about 30
\nliters of biodiesel every day.<\/p>\n
The manager of the Engineering Center at the BPPT, Soni
\nSolistia Wirawan, said the new fuel would remain unavailable to
\nthe public for now.<\/p>\n
\"We are still doing research on how it (biodiesel) effects the
\nengine. We will have a road test from Java to Sumatra,\" Soni said<\/p>\n
The research will also involve automotive companies PT Astra
\nIsuzu International and PT Pantja Motor, and the Japan-Indonesia
\nScience and Technology Forum.<\/p>\n
Hatta said it was important to have a sustainable supply of
\nfuel that was environmentally friendly, affordable and
\ntechnologically proven.<\/p>\n
As a major CPO producer, Indonesia will have an adequate
\nsupply of crude palm oil to produce the biodiesel. The country
\nproduced nine million tons of CPO in 2002.<\/p>\n
However, Hatta said there were several obstacles to the
\nproduction of biodiesel.<\/p>\n
\"The price for the raw material (CPO) is still relatively high
\nand people lack information about this new kind of fuel,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Biodiesel fuel could someday earn a larger share of the market
\nthan gas fuel, said the director general of oil and gas at the
\nMinistry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Iin Arifin Takhyan.<\/p>\n
\"This biodiesel does not require any engine modification for
\nvehicles. It works in ordinary diesel engines. It is different
\nfrom the (earlier introduced) gas fuel, which needs several
\nengine modifications, such as on the fuel tank,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, the assistant to the deputy for vehicle emissions at
\nthe Office of the State Minister for the Environment, Ridwan D.
\nTamin, told The Jakarta Post the President was preparing a decree
\nto promote the use of gas fuel in public transportation vehicles.<\/p>\n
\"We will coordinate with related institutions, such as the
\nMinistry of Trade and Industry to procure gas fuel-ready
\nvehicles, and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to
\nassure the availability of the fuel supply,\" said Ridwan.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/trial-begins-for-environmentally-friendly-fuel-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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