After the successful road test of B30 in diesel vehicles, the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (EMR) through the Research and Development Center for Oil and Gas Technologies (PPPTMGB) "LEMIGAS" continues with B30 application testing for agricultural machinery. The test is being done by comparing the performance of tractor machines that use B20 fuel with tractor machines that use B30.
The application test is made up of the performance test of a tractor diesel engine at the test bench, the performance test of a two-wheeled tractor (lab and field tests), and the endurance test for 1 000 hours. Other tests are also done to four-wheeled tractors including performance tests on a test bench and a 1 000 hour endurance test. These tests started in November 2019 and are targeted to finish by the end of January 2020.
Head of EMR Research and Development Agency Dadan Kusdiana explains that the usage of B30 for various sectors is urgent that it has become the President’s major concern. B30 fuel was officially implemented on January 1, 2020, while it was announced by President Jokowi already in December 2019.
Chief R&D of PT Kubota Indonesia Ristiawan explained that until the end of December 2019, the application test has completed 679 out of the targeted 1 000 hours. This time limit refers to the guarantee period that companies give to their consumers.
For the non-stop tests, they will be completed in about two months, said Rustiawan when he received the visit of Dadan Kusdiana in Semarang on December 30, 2019.
According to Maymuhar, the Coordinator of Application Implementation Groups of PPPTMGB “LEMIGAS”, the conventional B0 fuel was supplied by PT Pertamina from its Plumpang depot in North Jakarta whereas the B100 biodiesel was provided by Indonesian Biofuel Producers Association. The mixing to B30 was carried out at “LEMIGAS” blending plant.
Maymuchar explained that based on the results of the initial performance test at the test bench, there is no significant difference in power, torque, and Emission Colour (BSU) between the B20-fueled diesel engine and B30-fueled diesel engine. Both results meet SNI 0119-2012-1 standards.
Performance tests conducted by the Office of Agricultural Mechanization Development of the Ministry of Agriculture also show that there is no significant variance in terms of fuel consumption and field efficiency between the B20-fueled tractor engine and B30-fueled tractor engine. The results still meet the specifications of SNI 0738:2014.
As per December 30, 2019, the endurance tests have been run for 679 hours, filters condition is still good so that there is no need for filter replacement.
In addition to PT Kubota Indonesia, two companies are also participating in the test – Diamond (PT Tri Ratna Diesel) and PT Yanmar Indonesia. Just like the road test for automotive vehicles, every tractor type is also application-tested by comparing the performance of the engine when it uses B20 and when it uses B30.
The B30 application test on agriculture machines is being supported by the Indonesian Oil Palm Funds Management Agency (BPDPKS), PT Pertamina, Indonesian Biofuel Producers Association, Office of Agricultural Mechanization Development of Ministry of Agriculture, and Indonesian Association of Agriculture Tools and Machines Companies (Alsintani).
In addition to testing B30 on agricultural machinery, the Ministry of EMR is finishing the B30 application test on train gensets, passenger vessels, and heavy machinery. The application test on a train genset is being conducted on the genset of Bandung local trains for 1 000 hours and expected to finish by the end of January 2020. The testing for passenger vessels and heavy machinery started in December 2019.
