Pertamina Begins Selling Bioavtur from Used Cooking Oil for Aircraft

PT Pertamina Patra Niaga has begun realising the commercial production of aviation fuel, or Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), based on waste used cooking oil (UCO). This is to meet the demand from customers in the aviation industry for more environmentally friendly options.

Corporate Secretary of Pertamina Patra Niaga, Roberth M.V. Dumatubun, explained that the Cilacap refinery managed by Pertamina can now produce SAF from UCO on a commercial scale. This represents an important milestone for the company in addressing energy transition challenges while strengthening national energy resilience.

“In March 2026, the Pertamina Patra Niaga refinery will realise the commercial production of PertaminaSAF to meet customer demand,” he stated in a written release on Thursday (16/4/2026).

Throughout March 2026, the company recorded total production of around 45,000 barrels of SAF that meets international quality standards. The product is then distributed via sea routes from the Cilacap refinery port to two major airports, namely Soekarno-Hatta Airport and Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali.

“In line with March’s demand, around 45,000 barrels of PertaminaSAF, which meets quality and sustainability standards as CORSIA Eligible Fuel (CEF), will subsequently be shipped to customers via vessel from the Cilacap refinery port to Ngurah Rai and Soekarno-Hatta Airports at the end of March 2026,” he clarified.

The production process starts with the provision of certified used cooking oil under the International Sustainability Carbon Certification (ISCC), which is then processed at the Green Refinery facility in the Cilacap refinery. The resulting product is also ensured to meet the international Defence Standard (DEFSTAN) 91-091 specification for avtur as well as domestic regulatory requirements.

“This production marks an important milestone that reinforces Pertamina Patra Niaga’s commitment as a pioneer producer of SAF in Indonesia and the region,” he added.

The initiative to develop environmentally friendly energy based on waste is part of the company’s business strategy implementation to support the energy transition. Through the commercialisation of SAF, Pertamina aims to support Indonesia’s achievement of the Net Zero Emission target by 2060.

“This also strengthens Pertamina’s position in supporting the national energy transition in line with the roadmap towards Net Zero Emission in 2060,” he emphasised.