Biodiesel B50 Officially in Effect, KAI Confirms All Diesel Assets Are Ready

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) has confirmed that all of its diesel assets are ready to implement the B50 biodiesel blend. Vice President of Corporate Communication at KAI, Anne Purba, stated that this readiness covers locomotives and generator cars, which are a vital part of diesel-based train operations. “KAI’s readiness is in line with the B50 biodiesel mandate that the government began enforcing on 1 July 2026,” Anne said in a written statement in Jakarta on Thursday (2/7/2026). Anne explained that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has stipulated the implementation of B50 with a three-month transition period to allow for field adjustments, including managing old stock and the process towards full B50 usage. She added that KAI supports the government’s policy to strengthen the use of bioenergy based on domestic resources. “This support is carried out through asset readiness, technical application trials, and strengthening safety and operational reliability aspects,” Anne said. Anne emphasised that all of KAI’s diesel locomotives and assets are ready to implement B50 after undergoing technical application trials and strengthening operational safety aspects. This readiness, she noted, was reinforced through joint application trials with the Ministry of ESDM on diesel-based railway assets. The testing was conducted to ensure the use of B50 aligns with the operational characteristics of trains, both for locomotives and generator cars. For locomotives, testing was directed at observing the engine’s response when using B50 in train travel operation patterns. She said monitoring was carried out on engine performance, combustion stability, fuel consumption, and the condition of main components to ensure assets remain reliable when serving passenger journeys. For generator cars, testing was conducted by examining genset performance, fuel consumption, emissions, filter conditions, and operational endurance. These stages are important because generator cars play a role in maintaining the electricity supply to support passenger comfort during the journey. “The use of B50 in railway assets requires measured technical readiness. Therefore, KAI conducts testing, monitoring, and evaluation so that its implementation remains aligned with railway operational safety standards,” Anne stated. From a sustainability perspective, Anne said the implementation of B50 strengthens KAI’s contribution to the national energy transition agenda. Increasing the biodiesel blend helps boost the use of domestic renewable energy, curbs the use of fossil diesel, and supports emission reduction efforts in the transport sector. Anne conveyed that KAI has also been using biodiesel gradually in its diesel asset operations, starting from B35 to B40. This experience forms part of KAI’s readiness to enter the B50 stage with a safe, measured technical approach that suits operational needs.