The development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in Indonesia presents vast potential but encounters several challenges.
According to Edi Wibowo, Director of Bioenergy at the Directorate General of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation, despite a high demand domestically and internationally, challenges include limited raw material availability, high production costs, insufficient infrastructure, complex certification processes, and the need for increased public awareness.
Bioavtur holds promise due to its high domestic and international demand, coupled with Indonesia’s abundance of potential and alternative domestic raw materials.
Government and global policies supporting the use of SAF as a low-carbon fuel further bolster its development.
Challenges in SAF development:
- Limited Raw Material Availability: The scarcity of raw materials and their dual use in food and other industries, such as palm and sugarcane, poses a challenge.
- High Production Costs: Edi emphasized the need to reduce production costs to ensure SAF’s economic viability and significant production scale-up.
- Limited Infrastructure: Infrastructure for SAF production, storage, and distribution is currently limited, presenting a substantial challenge.
- Complex Certification Processes: The intricate certification processes add complexity to the development of bioavtur.
- Sustainable Technological Innovation: Continuous research and development in sustainable technologies are essential to make SAF an economically feasible aviation fuel.
Recently, Pertamina has taken the lead in developing SAF, with other businesses expressing interest. In 2021, Pertamina International Refinery Unit IV Cilacap successfully produced SAF J2.4 from refined bleached deodorized palm kernel oil.
With a production capacity of 1,350 kiloliters per day, SAF has undergone extensive testing, proving its quality comparable to conventional avtur.
The SAF produced by Pertamina will be marketed and distributed through subholding company PT Pertamina Patra Niaga.
Despite the challenges, ongoing initiatives, collaborations, and positive testing results indicate a promising future for SAF in Indonesia’s aviation industry.
