Gaikindo: B50 Implementation Safe for Diesel Engines in Indonesia

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Jongki D. Sugiarto, First Chairman of the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo), has stated that, based on testing carried out so far, the use of B50 biodiesel fuel is safe for diesel-engine vehicles in Indonesia.

Gaikindo, he continued, welcomes the government’s plan to implement B50 biodiesel for diesel-engine vehicles in Indonesia, and automotive manufacturers offering diesel vehicles have been asked to take part during the B50 testing period to support the government programme.

“The results are good, so manufacturers have been asked to prepare their vehicles. They were then road-tested using B50 over tens of thousands of kilometres. So far, it is safe,” Jongki D. Sugiarto said in Jakarta on Monday.

According to the association, the results of testing conducted over thousands of kilometres give cause for optimism about implementing the fuel blend containing 50 per cent biodiesel.

Jongki also assessed that the successful implementation of B50 depends not only on the readiness of vehicle technology.

In his view, developing B50 could serve as one solution to increase the absorption of domestic palm oil production.

Consequently, the programme would not only support efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels but also add value to the national plantation sector.

The association reminded that the palm oil industry is a strategic sector that needs continued support.

Therefore, utilising palm oil through the biodiesel programme is considered capable of maintaining a balance between domestic supply and demand, so that production is not excessive without a clear market.

With satisfactory test results and support from industry, Jongki expressed hope that the implementation of B50 can proceed according to the government’s plan.

However, its execution still requires coordination between the government, vehicle manufacturers, the fuel industry, and palm oil industry players so that the transition to higher-biodiesel-content fuel can take place optimally.