Indonesia's Pertamina to produce SAF at Cilacap in 2Q

: Biofuels
25/03/20

Indonesian state-owned refinery Pertamina will trial the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its Cilacap refinery from the second quarter of 2025, the firm said in a press release on 18 March.

Pertamina will produce 9,000 b/d of SAF at Cilacap using 3pc, or 270 b/d, of used cooking oil (UCO) as feedstock in its initial stages. Cilacap can process 9,000 b/d of UCO, according to Pertamina president director Taufik Aditiyawarman. The firm has partnered with UCO collectors to ensure the availability of supplies, he added. The partnership with local UCO suppliers likely started in December 2024 when the firm sought 500t of UCO to trial production of co-processed SAF. Pertamina was aiming to start trial SAF production from the first quarter of 2025, it said at the time.

Indonesian domestic airline Pelita Air will be the first airline to use the co-processed SAF, according to Pertamina. The refiner is also considering other options for co-processed SAF production at its Plaju and Dumai refineries using UCO as a feedstock.

Pertamina previously conducted similar tests using 2.4pc of refined, bleached, and deodorised palm kernel oil (RBDPKO) as feedstock for co-processed SAF.

International flights departing Indonesia will be required to use 1pc SAF in their fuel mix in 2027, rising to 2.5pc by 2030 and 50pc by 2060.

By Malcolm Goh

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