Commission XII Urges Quality Control for B50 Biodiesel from Upstream to Downstream
The Deputy Chairman of Commission XII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Donny Oekoen, has requested that the government and PT Pertamina Patolog Niaga anticipate potential bottlenecks in the energy logistics system following the implementation of the B50 biodiesel programme. Infrastructure readiness and the strengthening of quality control systems are considered key to ensuring that the increased biodiesel blend does not disrupt fuel availability for the public.
He explained that the implementation of B50, which is set to take effect from 1 July 2026, carries consequences for the requirements of blending facilities, terminals, storage tanks, transport, and distribution. This is particularly significant as the biodiesel allocation for 2026 is expected to reach approximately 15.65 million kilolitres.
“The biodiesel allocation for 2026, reaching around 15.65 million kilolitres, demonstrates the massive volume that must be managed by the national energy logistics system,” said Donny during a Hearing (RDP) with the Director General of New, Renewable Energy, and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, and the President Director of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga at the Nusantara I Building, Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday, 8 September 2026.
Consequently, Commission XII requested a comprehensive overview regarding national blending capacity, the capacity utilised by Pertamina Patra Niaga, facility utilisation rates, storage capacity, the number of blending and handover points, and the need for additional investment. In his view, these aspects must be ensured so that the increased use of biodiesel does not create bottlenecks that lead to disruptions in Biosolar availability or increased distribution costs and energy prices.
“At the same time, we must ensure that the increased use of biodiesel does not cause bottlenecks that result in the disruption of Biosolar availability or an increase in distribution costs and energy prices, which would ultimately burden the public,” he asserted.
In addition to logistical readiness, he emphasised the importance of strengthening fuel product quality alongside the increasing complexity of B50 specifications. He noted that the refinement of B50 specifications includes parameters such as T50 distillation, pour point, a FAME content of 50 per cent, as well as regulations regarding particulate contamination and cleanliness, which will be implemented gradually starting from 1 January 2027.
“With the increase in product specifications and complexity, the quality control and quality assurance systems must also be strengthened from upstream to downstream, starting from raw materials, the blending process, terminals, storage, transport, depots, petrol stations, to the consumers,” he said.