Pertamina Group Prepares Bioethanol Ecosystem to Push Energy Transition

Pertamina Group, a major Indonesian energy company, is actively developing a bioethanol ecosystem to support the country s energy transition and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The initiative is part of a long-term strategy, starting from 2024 to 2035, to increase the production of bioethanol as a raw material for Pertamax Green, a bioethanol-blended fuel. The current national ethanol production capacity stands at around 180,000 kiloliters per year, but the demand for ethanol blends, such as E5 and E10, is much higher, with a need of 1.9 million kiloliters per year. To address this gap, Pertamina NRE has signed an agreement with PT Sinergi Gula Nusantara to construct a new bioethanol plant in Glenmore, Banyuwangi, with a capacity of 30,000 kiloliters per year. In addition to sugar cane, Pertamina is exploring other potential raw materials for bioethanol production, such as sorghum, nipah, and empty bunches of palm oil. The company aims to diversify the types of raw materials used to avoid interfering with the national need for sugar cane for food. The transport sector, a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Indonesia, is a key target for the use of environmentally friendly fuel. The government has encouraged the development of bioethanol as a blend for gasoline-type fuels through Presidential Regulation No. 40 of 2023. Pertamina s commitment to developing clean energy aligns with the government s aspiration of achieving net zero emissions by 2060. The development of bioethanol not only supports Indonesia s enhanced nationally determined contribution (ENDC) target but also has the potential to create great value by opening up job opportunities in the raw material cultivation and distribution sectors. Pertamina Vice President Corporate Communication Fadjar Djoko Santoso highlighted the company s potential in bioethanol development, emphasizing its role

Source: en.republika.co.id
Published on 2024-10-03