Government Directly Tests B50 on Railways

The government is conducting field trials of B50 biodiesel in the railway sector as part of efforts to strengthen national energy resilience. This testing marks a shift from the laboratory stage to real-world implementation in the field. Director of Facility and Infrastructure Management at PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), Heru Kuswanto, stated that the trials are being carried out to ensure the technical performance of railway facilities while supporting the green energy agenda. KAI is collaborating with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and Lemigas to test the performance of locomotive engines and generators under high-load conditions by comparing the use of B50 and B30. “The field trials of biodiesel or B50, a mixture of 50 percent palm oil and 50 percent diesel, aim to strengthen national energy resilience and realise more sustainable green energy,” said Heru during a press conference in Yogyakarta on Monday (27/4/2026). He detailed that the testing is being conducted on the P02411 KA Bogowonto power car with an MTU 12V 183 engine with a capacity of 650 kVA, as well as locomotive CC 206 15 12 at the Sidotopo Locomotive Depot. The testing focuses on operational reliability when the facilities operate under high pressure. Heru emphasised that safety and reliability aspects are the primary concerns in the implementation of B50. Technical evaluations are being carried out continuously to ensure that the use of this new fuel does not disrupt train operations.