Indonesia may Start Using B35 Biodiesel Blend Starting January 2023

Indonesia may start implementing a program using biodiesel with 35% blend of palm oil-based fuel, known as B35, from January 2023, Reuters reported on December 09, quoting a senior energy ministry official. The world’s top palm oil producer currently used B30.  

 Indonesian President Joko Widodo told his cabinet to prepare the mechanism to implement B35 amid expectations crude oil price would remain high next year. The overall palm oil-based fuel allocation for 2023 is estimated at around 13 million kiloliters, Reuters wrote.  The 2022 allocation was 11.03 kiloliters.

Meanwhile the energy ministry has been running trials for biodiesel containing 40% of fuel made using palm oil. Two formulations of B40 are being tested, the first is a mix of diesel with 40% fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) and the second a mix of diesel with 30% FAME mixed with 10% green diesel made of refined, bleached and deodorized palm oil.