Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Trials B50 Fuel for Trains, Target Completion October 2026
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has begun testing the use of B50 fuel on diesel train engines. One of these tests is being conducted at the Lempuyangan Rail Testing Unit (PUK) in Yogyakarta.
“The rail sector involves two types of tests. From Lempuyangan to Jakarta for genset testing, as we see the filling of the genset which will be carried out for 2,400 hours,” said the Director General of New, Renewable Energy, and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) of the Ministry of ESDM, Eniya Alistiani Dewi, in a speech at PUK Lempuyangan, Yogyakarta, on Monday.
She explained that B50 is a fuel mixture consisting of 50 percent diesel oil and 50 percent vegetable fuel in the form of biodiesel. The trial is also being conducted on the Surabaya-Jakarta train locomotive for six months.
“So, the final test for the use of B50 in the railway sector will be in October 2026. We are conducting the test under real conditions so we can see what the results will be,” she said.
The EBTKE Director General stated that the implementation of the B50 usage test has been underway since last year as preparation for the use of B50 starting 1 July 2026. The real-condition road test began on 9 December 2025 and has gone through a series of laboratory technical tests.
“So since 9 December, we have started the entire series of implementation tests in automotive, mining, agricultural equipment, shipping, genset, and finally this rail test because it had to wait until after Lebaran. So this time we are testing for trains,” she said.
She explained that the B50 programme has a long history dating back 15 years and that B50 fuel is only available in Indonesia. In fact, Indonesia currently holds the number one achievement in the world.
“There are no technical references that we can access. So there is no example, this is our own pride. Even now, other countries are rushing to contact our country on how to implement B50, because there is truly no reference or example other than ours,” she said.
Therefore, she said, this B50 usage test is a very important step that must be taken now. Her side hopes that the implementation of the B50 usage test can run smoothly and that the public can witness the fuel usage process.
“And it should be known that business entities are currently also improving the specifications of B50, the specifications of FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) mixed with diesel provided by Pertamina Patra Niaga,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Director of Infrastructure Management at PT KAI, Heru Kuswanto, as a representative of PT KAI’s board of directors, expressed appreciation to all parties who have contributed to the organisation of the B50 usage test activity in the rail sector.
“The main objective of biodiesel B50, a mixture of 50 percent palm oil and 50 percent diesel, is to strengthen national energy resilience and realise more sustainable green energy,” he said.
He stated that the strategic benefits of the B50 programme in Indonesia are to support energy independence, carbon emission reduction, economic resilience, energy diversification, and optimisation of the domestic sector.
PT KAI provides support for the implementation of B50 through trials on the Bogowonto Train and will collaborate with the Ministry of ESDM and Lemigas to evaluate the performance of locomotive engines and genset generators under high load using B50 and B30.
“The most important thing to ensure is to maintain safety, security, and ongoing technical evaluation to maintain the reliability of facilities. It is hoped that this will run smoothly and provide optimal benefits for the railway industry in supporting the national energy transition as well as sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation,” he said.