Successful Production of J2.4 Bioavtur, Pertamina Supports National Clean Energy Strategic Program

(Pertamina (Google Translation)) Pertamina prints a new milestone in the national aviation industry through the production of 'Bioavtur J2.4', an innovation of clean energy based on biofuels for air transportation modes. The trial of the use of Bioavtur J2.4 on the CN235 FTB aircraft is a sign of the superiority of the biofuel produced by the Pertamina International Refinery, the Cilacap unit.

In line with the goal of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Number 7 'Clean and Affordable Energy', Pertamina's Bioavtur J2-4 contributes to efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Not only SDGs, at the national level the development of bioavtur is also in line with Indonesia's target through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in achieving a renewable energy mix of 23% by 2025 according to the National Energy Policy.

Corporate Secretary of Pertamina's Subholding Refining & Petrochemical, Ifki Sukarya, emphasized that through a comprehensive development stage, Bioavtur J2.4 has proven to show performance that is equivalent to fossil fuel avtur. “Since 2014, Pertamina has pioneered research and development of Bioavtur through the Dumai and Cilacap Refinery Units. Bioavtur performance is optimal, where the difference in performance is only 0.2 – 0.6% from fossil avtur performance. Bioavtur J2.4 contains 2.4% vegetable, this is the maximum achievement with the existing catalyst technology, "explained Ifki.

Pertamina's contribution in developing Bioavtur J2.4 has been carried out in an integrated manner since 2014 which includes two important stages. The initial stage of development is managed by PT Refinery Pertamina Internasional Dumai unit through the Distillate Hydrotreating Unit (DHDT). The first stage is marked by the 'Hydrodecarboxylation' process, where our initial target is the production of biohydrocarbon diesel and bioavtur on a laboratory scale.

Meanwhile, the second stage is marked by the 'Hydrodeoxygenation' process, where Pertamina has succeeded in producing a more efficient bio-hydrocarbon diesel,' explained Ifki Sukarya. The climax, in 2020, the Dumai Refinery unit succeeded in producing D-100 biohydrocarbon Diesel which is 100% derived from vegetable raw materials, namely Refined Bleached Deodorized Palm Oil (RBDPO).

RBDPO is palm oil that has gone through a refining process to remove free fatty acids and purification to remove color and odor. This initial stage is an important step in developing green products, including green diesel and bioavtur.

Ifki Sukarya emphasized that the Pertamina International Refinery, the Cilacap unit, was lined up to have the technical capacity to develop a national Bioavtur. This is inseparable from the business portfolio of the Cilacap refinery unit, which is the largest Aviaton Turbine fuel producer in Indonesia with the highest production rate of 1,852 thousand barrels throughout 2020. At the Cilacap Refinery Unit, the development of Bioavtur is carried out in the Treated Distillate Hydro Treating (TDHT). The red and white catalyst for Bioavtur is produced at Clariant Kujang Catalyst's facility in Cikampek with direct supervision from Pertamina's RTI (Research Technology and Innovation) team.

"Through the Cilacap Refinery Unit, Bioavtur is produced through palm kernel oil as raw material or or Refined, Bleached, and Deodorized Palm Kernel Oil (RBDPKO) with fossil avtur," explained Ifki Sukarya. "The production capacity of bioavtur at the Cilacap Refinery Unit reaches 8 thousand barrels per day and will continue to be increased by looking at market needs, starting in 2023," said Ifki Sukarya.

The synergy of Pertamina's J-24 Bioavtur development involves the important roles of stakeholders including the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia, the Directorate General of New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation, and the Bandung Institute of Technology. The development of Pertamina's J-24 Bioavtur is in line with the clean energy roadmap of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources as stipulated in the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation No. 12 of 2015 regarding the mixing of biofuels up to 5% by 2025, including for air transportation modes.

With funding support from BPDPKS (Oil Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency) given to the ITB Bioavtur Test Team as well as testing facilities and engine assistance from Garuda Maintenance Facilities (GMF), 5 times Bioavtur performance tests in the engine test cell were successfully carried out in 2 test periods. While still being coordinated by the Directorate General of EBTKE at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, other stakeholders joined the team, namely PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) which offered a flight test using the CN 235 FTB aircraft. The Indonesian Military Airworthiness Authority (IMAA) as the giver of the flight test permit, and the Directorate of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operation (DKPPU)-Kemenhub as the party holding the authority for the use of bioavtur on commercial aircraft also provided support.

The development of Bioavtur J2.4 which is managed by Pertamina International Refinery through Dumai and Cilacap units is a support from the Environment, Social and Government (ESG) roadmap which is the company's business pillar. Ifki added, to achieve the ESG mission, all units under the management of PT Refinery Pertamina Internasional have pioneered the integration of Green Refinery in their business processes. Efforts to develop green energy and products within Pertamina's refineries include Green Diesel, Green Avtur and Green Gasoline. “Clean energy development is part of Pertamina International Refinery's strategic initiatives to achieve the vision of world class refining & petrochemical in 2027,” concluded Ifki Sukarya. READ MORE