B20 Mandatory Considered Contrary to Present Tech Development
28 August 2018 11:18 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Kurnia Lesani Adnan, a member of bus operator PO SAN Putra Sejahtera, which joined the Land Transportation Organization (Organda), deemed the government’s policy for a mandatory use of 20 percent biodiesel blend (B20) was contrary to the present automotive technology development. Based on his experiences, his buses went down after using Biodiesel 10 (B10), such as in its fuel filter.
“[Our buses] are currently using B10 and we have to change the fuel filter before its schedule as recommended by the manufacturer (15,000km). You can imagine [what will happen] if us, as the operator, neglect this matter,” said Kurnia on Monday, August 27.
The government planned to expand its policy of mandatory use of B20 to non-subsidy vehicles or public service obligation (PSO) on September 1, 2018.
According to Kurnia, if the fuel filter is blocked, it would highly increase the accident risk. Aside from that, he feared that the B20 component or FAME in the fuel did not mix consistently or at over 20 percent in certain regions.
Kurnia said in line with the rapid development in the infrastructure, he must reform the bus specification to a larger capacity or at least to meet the Euro 3 standard.
The government, ahead of 2020, initiated the Euro 4 standard while the bus was currently in the Euro 2 standard and that B10 was hard to find.
“We demand the government to think realistically in issuing a policy. Diesel fuel is now scarce. In Bengkulu, we queue up since 7 am and get fueled at 4 pm. What’s the government want to expect?” said Kurnia related to the policy of mandatory use of B20 to non-subsidy vehicles.
BISNIS