Organda Ready to Adapt to B50 Implementation, Urges Guaranteed Diesel Supply
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Land Transportation Organisation (Organda) has stated that it will immediately undertake adjustments for the implementation of B5/50 biodiesel within its public transport fleets, while simultaneously urging the government to ensure diesel availability to maintain smooth national transport operations.
The General Chairman of the Central Executive Board (DPP) of Organda, Adrianto Djokosoetono, stated that the implementation of B50 is no longer a matter of readiness, but rather how businesses can adapt through various operational adjustments.
“So, when discussing the B50 issue, it is not a matter of being ready or not; we certainly must adjust, that is one point. Through various operational techniques, we have sufficient experience from long ago,” said Adrianto when confirmed in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He explained that the transport fleets currently in operation were not specifically designed to use B50 biodiesel, necessitating a gradual adjustment process on the ground.
“The vehicles were not prepared for B50. However, we will adjust,” he said.
Despite continuously adapting to national energy policies, Organda emphasised that its primary focus at present is ensuring that the diesel supply is distributed evenly across all petrol stations (SPBU) so that transport services to the public are not disrupted.
“Regarding the B50 issue, our focus is more on how that diesel is available. Therefore, in every meeting, we always request and plead that diesel be available at every petrol station at all times. This is more important than the price, and more important than B50 or even higher blends in the future,” he asserted.
Adrianto stated that the certainty of diesel distribution is the most decisive factor for smooth transport operations, compared to issues of price or the increase in biodiesel blends.
He added that Organda has consistently communicated to the government in various forums that guaranteeing diesel availability across all regions is a primary necessity to maintain the continuity of transport services.
According to him, diesel supply constraints are still being found in various regions, such as Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua, Bali, and several other areas.
Therefore, Organda hopes that the implementation of B50 can run in tandem with the strengthening of fuel distribution so that transport services to the public remain optimal.
“Because we are not setting aside the technical operational consequences; we will adjust. We will adjust. That is the essence. But if the diesel is not there, we cannot do anything,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the DPP of Organda, Kurnia Lesani Adnan, said that the implementation of B50 biodiesel does indeed require several technical adjustments because it is not yet fully compatible with Euro-standard vehicles.
He explained that the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) content in biodiesel in various countries generally ranges around 12.5 per cent, whereas Indonesia is implementing a blend of up to 50 per cent through the B50 programme.
In his view, the use of B50 has the potential to cause technical challenges for vehicles using exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) or AdBlue technology, including sludge buildup and clogging of the vehicle’s silencer system.
This condition, he continued, means that business operators must adjust operational patterns, including shortening the lifespan of fuel filters, which increases fleet maintenance costs.
Kurnia said that Organda has submitted various inputs regarding these technical challenges to the government since the implementation of B20, B30, and B40, up to the enforcement of the B50 mandate which began on 1 July.
Despite facing several technical adjustments, Organda reaffirmed its support for the implementation of B50 as part of the national energy policy.
The organisation hopes that the government will continue to ensure that the diesel supply is available sustainably throughout Indonesia so that the transition process towards higher biodiesel usage can proceed smoothly without disrupting transport services to the public.