TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) spokesperson Agus Komarudin said KAI had already used 20 percent mixed biodiesel (B20) for the train operations starting on September 1, 2018.

“KAI supports government’s program on the use of B20 in every railway and supporting operations,” said Agus via a phone call Tuesday, September 4.

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) earlier suggested KAI use 20 percent mixed biodiesel in Solar-branded fuel for railway fleets. The recommendation was given after the ministry completed the test of B20 usage on KAI’s locomotive of Progress Pail (EMD) and General Electric (GE) used to pull the long coal train (babaranjang) in Tanjung Karang Locomotive Dipo, Bandar Lampung, Lampung, Tuesday, August 14.

"There is no problem with the use of B20 for train operations thus far as in the previous trial," Agus said.

Agus mentioned KAI presently operated 486 Locomotive units and 256 powertrain units with fuel consumption of 220.1 million liters per year in 2017. As of the first semester of 2018 or until June, the fuel consumption reached 114 million liters. Meanwhile, he added, the quota for B20 was set at 280 million liters in 2018.

KARTIKA ANGGRAENI