Pertamina to Readjust Fuel Qualities for EURO IV Standard

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government through its state-owned energy company Pertamina plans to introduce a stricter fuel quality which will be sold under the name EURO IV gasoline starting in September.

The quality of a EURO IV fuel is said to be equivalent to gasoline measured over 91 Octane. This begs the question regarding the fate of Pertamina’s 90 Octane fuels such as Pertalite.

Indonesia has currently just adopted the EURO 2 emission standard since 2003, which is widely considered to be a late move compared to other countries that have adopted the emission standard since 1997. Developed countries have even adopted the EURO 4 standard since 2005, just when Indonesia started its EURO 2 regulation.

Years have gone by and Indonesia has yet to fully adopt the EURO 2 regulation since the country still sells RON 88 fuels, such as the Premium fuel sold in Pertamina gas stations. 

However on March 2017, the Environment and Forestry Ministry (KLHK) issued a new emission regulation through the KLHK Ministry Regulation No 20/MENLHK/Setjen/KUM.1/3/2017 that will apply for new vehicles sold in the country.

This regulation will gradually be adopted starting from this year up to 2021.

According to Pertamina marketing director Muchamad Iskandar, the Premium fuel production volume will likely drop by the end of this year. He also believes that Pertamina’s Pertalite fuel variant will have its specification bumped up to be a 90 octane fuel once the EURO IV regulation is effective.

Pertamina plans to fully produce EURO IV compliant fuels by the year 2023.

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