Pertamina Cilacap Refinery Ready to Produce B100 by Mid-Next Year

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The CEO of state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina, Nicke Widyawati, stated that President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's ambitions had greatly driven the production of 100-percent biodiesel or B100. The Cilacap Refinery, she added, would be ready to develop B100 by the middle of 2021.

“Later in June next year, the Cilacap Refinery can already produce B100 made of CPO (crude palm oil),” said Nicke in a virtual discussion with Rakyat Merdeka on Monday, June 15.

She explained that the pure biodiesel would be produced gradually, starting from 3,000 barrels to 6,000 barrels per day. Pertamina, she added, was currently revamping its refinery equipment since the mixing process was still limited to B30.

“We have already started the process and it should be finished in the middle of next year. We can prove to the world that we can make CPO as the main material for fuel,” she underlined.

Nicke continued that Pertamina would also produce B100 in Plaju Green Refinery. The facility will produce green diesel up to 20,000 barrels per day.

She recalled that the mixing of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) with diesel had begun since she first joined the company. The FAME content in diesel fuel was initially only 2.5 percent. “So the B2.5 program has been running for a long time and yet stalled,” Nicke added.

However, the mixing program has now increased to 30 percent (B30). Therefore, Pertamina is preparing to develop 100-percent biodiesel or B100.

EKO WAHYUDI