Carmakers Worry Higher Biofuel Mix Could Damage Engines

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April 17, 2015

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by Raras Cahyafitri and Linda Yulismann (The Jakarta Post) … “The usage of biodiesel is good. However, we are still worried about the impacts. There are engines that can accept 15 percent or even 20 percent [biofuel] content, however, some other engines cannot accept that,” Association of Indonesian Automotive Manufacturers (Gaikindo) deputy chairman Jongkie Sugiarto said.

The government last March required higher content of locally produced biofuel blending into diesel fuel, of 15 percent from 10 percent previously. It wants the figure to continue to increase up to 20 percent, compared with only 7.5 percent required in 2013.

The policy was launched to reduce carbon emission and bring down imports of diesel fuel to meet growing domestic fuel consumption. Indonesia, a former member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) but now a net importer of the commodity, has seen its trade balance tainted by a growing volume of imports of crude oil and its products.

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“There is a recommendation from one of them that its engines can only receive 12.5 percent at the maximum level. [State-owned electricity firm] PLN is also worried about an obligation of up to 25 percent biofuel to be mixed for power plants,” Pertamina marketing director Ahmad Bambang said. READ MORE

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