In Indonesia, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (EMR) through the EMR Research and Development Agency has announced that it has submitted the finals results of B30 road tests on diesel engine vehicles along with the technical recommendations on the implementation of mandatory B30 in 2020."Overall, B30 is ready to be used in diesel engine vehicles as of 1 January 2020," said Head of EMR R&D Agency Dadan Kusdiana at the Office of Ministry of EMR in Jakarta on November 28, 2019.
The mandatory B30, Dadan adds, will be implemented in 2020, in accordance with the mandate of Regulation of Minister of EMR Number 12 of 2015.
We issue these B30 technical recommendations based on the road test, the vehicle performance test, and the monitoring and evaluation conducted by the technical team. Overall, B30 is ready to be used in diesel engine vehicles as of 1 January 2020. Our recommendations include handling, storage, and fuel specification, explained Dadan Kusdiana.
The technical recommendations suggested by the Ministry of EMR cover the following issues, among others:
B30 Handling and Blending
- To maintain B30 quality, the blending, storage, and distribution of B30 must be controlled and monitored on a regular basis, like during the road tests.
- To get a homogenous blend, the blending must meet the general guidelines and use the facility and infrastructure that meet the standards.
- To prevent increased water content, B100 must be kept in closed tanks and must not come into contact with air, while blending with B0 must be done immediately.
Proposal for fuel specification
- For B100, maximum monoglyceride is 0.55 percent-mass, maximum water content is 350 ppm. B100 uses other than this recommendation requires additional testing.
- Brand Owners (ATPM) are expected to inform their customers about the faster replacement of fuel filter at new vehicles or those that have not used biodiesel blend.
On behalf of Minister of EMR Arifin Tasrif, Dadan thanks all parties for the support granted for the B30 road test.
With the completion of this B30 road test, we would like to express our gratitude to all parties who have extended their support so that the B30 road test finished well, said Dadan.
The road test on B30 fuel is supported by Oil-Palm Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) providing funding, PT. Pertamina (Persero) and Aprobi providing fuel, and Gaikindo providing test vehicles. The test examiners are PPPTMGB “LEMIGAS” and BPPT (BTBRD and BT2MP), while the integrator is P3tek KEBTKE.
Previously, the B30 road test–officially launched by Minister of EMR Ignasius Jonan on June 13, 2019, has been well completed with the following results:
- The percentage of power change, fuel consumption, lubricant, and exhaust emission against the mileage of diesel engine vehicle is relatively the same between B20 and B30 fuels;
- The opacity of B30 exhaust gas is below the measuring threshold and does not show a significant increase;
- In 3, 7, 14, and 21-day soaking time, B0, B30 (MG Biodiesel 0.4 percent) and B30 (MG Biodiesel 0.55 percent) fueled vehicles can be turned on normally with ignition time around 1-second;
- New vehicles or those that previously have not used biodiesel fuel tend to experience the faster replacement of fuel filter at the beginning of B30 use due to the blocking effect, but after a while filter replacement can be done at normal intervals.
