Pertamina Claims Bioethanol to Have RON 95

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-owned gas and oil giant PT Pertamina disclosed that Bioethanol which will be launched soon will have a research octane number or RON 95. Bioethanol is deemed an environmentally friendly fuel blend of 92-octane Pertamax and 5-percent ethanol.

“Yes, RON 95,” said Pertamina’s VP of Corporate Communication, Fadjar Djoko Santoso, in a written statement on Monday, June 19, 2023.

Fadjar was tightlipped when asked about the launch date because the company is pushing for the licensing process. However, he hoped that the new fuel will be launched shortly.

For the price, he claimed he could not confirm it in detail yet. “It seems to be higher than Pertamax price because the octane number is also higher than Pertamax,” he said.

On June 6, Fadjar said Pertamina would ensure that Bioethanol passed the vehicle and road tests that were planned to be carried out in Surabaya, East Java.

“Of course, we hope [it will be tested] in other cities, but for the time being, it will be in Surabaya,” Fadjar said after a press conference at Grha Pertamina, Jakarta, Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Meanwhile, Pertamina Director Nicke Widyawati said bioenergy will be launched to lessen dependence on fossil fuels. Pertamina assessed that the energy transition is not only aimed at reducing emissions but also realizing Indonesia's natural resource-based energy independence.

“So Pertamina will launch a new product, Bioethanol, this month. So we mix Pertamax with ethanol,” Nicke said in a press conference at Grha Pertamina, adding that the launch date has not been determined yet.

AMELIA RAHIMA SARI

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