All KAI Locomotives and Gensets Now Use B40 Biosolar, Ready to Welcome B50 Innovation
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The public’s choice to use trains has a positive impact on environmental conservation. Every customer journey now adds value to the environment because all locomotives and gensets operated by KAI have adopted renewable energy through B40 biosolar fuel.
The use of B40 represents KAI’s support for the strategic initiatives of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) in introducing renewable energy to the transportation sector. This fuel, which contains a 40% vegetable-based mixture, has been fully implemented since February 2025, following successful joint trials since July 2024. Through this adoption of renewable energy, rail operations produce lower emissions and strengthen their role as a far more environmentally friendly logistics and transportation solution.
KAI Vice President of Corporate Communication, Anne Purba, stated that as a user of green energy technology, KAI continues to be a reliable mobility partner for the public.
“We understand that efficiency and affordable travel costs are very important to the public. Amid increasingly limited petroleum fuel (BBM), trains provide a cost-effective and reliable mobility solution. By using this B40 innovation from the Ministry of ESDM, every customer automatically becomes part of the major transformation towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly national energy transition,” said Anne.
KAI places great emphasis and is ready to support the next step from the Ministry of ESDM, which is the development of B50. The government’s strategy to increase the use of vegetable-based fuels (BBN) is part of the broader plan towards national energy independence and achieving the Net Zero Emission (NZE) target by 2060.
KAI is very enthusiastic about welcoming B50, which can later be applied to rail services. Given that travel safety is the top priority, all locomotives and gensets that will use B50 will first undergo a series of technical trials before officially serving customers.
“We strongly support the transition plan to B50 that is being developed by the Ministry of ESDM. The advancing use of renewable energy makes trains even more superior in preserving the environment, so we can pass on a healthier environment to future generations,” added Anne.
Public awareness of switching to environmentally friendly public transport continues to be reflected in the increasing volume of customers. During the first quarter of 2026, 14,515,350 passengers used long-distance and local train services. This figure grew by 18.4% compared to the same period in 2025, which had 12,261,632 passengers.
In addition to transporting passengers, trains continue to support the vital needs of hundreds of millions of people through logistics services. During the first quarter of 2026, KAI transported 12,075,002 tons of coal to ensure electricity availability in Java and Bali, as well as 2,873,440 tons of other goods such as containers, agricultural products, and retail shipments. All this logistics distribution now moves with more environmentally friendly trains thanks to the use of B40 biosolar on all locomotives and gensets operated by KAI.
“Collaboration with the Ministry of ESDM in adopting renewable energy is a strategic step by KAI towards national energy independence. We are committed to ensuring that trains continue to transition into a safe and efficient mode of transportation, bringing sustainable benefits for the nation’s future,” Anne concluded.