By Pandu Setiabudi
The government plans to conduct a test flight using a 3% bioavtur blend (J3) on the Jakarta–Bali route in August, officials said, as the country moves forward with efforts to develop sustainable aviation fuel.
The trial, part of a broader push to reduce emissions in the aviation sector, will use used cooking oil (UCO) as a feedstock, according to Eniya Listiani Dewi, director general of new, renewable energy and energy conservation at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
“We will see whether the Jakarta–Bali flight will indeed start using J3,” Eniya said at an event organized by the Indonesian Biofuel Producers Association (APROBI) on Thursday.
Edy Januari, vice president of process and facility at Pertamina Indonesia Refinery, said the company plans to begin processing UCO on July 20 or 21, followed by the test flight in August.
“We plan to process this new feedstock, targeting a 3% co-processing blend with fossil fuel. Then, in August, we aim to conduct the flight as a gift for Indonesia’s Independence Day,” he said.
Read also: Pertamina to begin bioavtur production trial from UCO in 2025
The UCO is not currently intended for biodiesel production, Eniya said, noting that UCO will be directed exclusively toward aviation fuel. She added that the program has drawn international attention, with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) sending a letter in response to the initiative.
“If we go ahead with this 3% blend, Indonesia will stand apart from neighboring countries,” Eniya said. “This initiative has already been discussed in international forums.”
President Prabowo Subianto has instructed state-owned energy firm PT Pertamina to implement the J3 program, but a final decision on its rollout will be made following the test flight, she added.
Authorities are also assessing the fuel’s performance at various flight altitudes and its potential impact on ticket prices.
Indonesia previously conducted test flights using a 2.4% (J2.4) blend of bioavtur in 2021 on the Jakarta–Bandung route with a CN-235 aircraft. In 2023, a Garuda Indonesia Boeing 737-800 flew with the blend on the Jakarta–Solo route. The use of bioavtur has not yet been made mandatory.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak
