The road test is the last series of a number of trials conducted to assess the application of B40 and ensure that it will be able to perform well.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ministry on Wednesday conducted a road test for diesel engine vehicles operating on Biodiesel 40 (B40), which contains 40 percent biofuel made from palm oil and 60 percent diesel.

"The road test is the last series of a number of trials conducted to assess the utilization of B40 and ensure that it will be able to perform well," ESDM Minister Arifin Tasrif remarked here at the launch of the road test.

The implementation of the test was in accordance with President Joko Widodo’s (Jokowi’s) directive to continue expanding the utilization of biodiesel to 100 percent, or commonly called B100, he added.

Indonesia is among the pioneer countries in terms of optimizing the use of biodiesel, thus the government is striving to improve the biodiesel product, he informed.

He said he expects the development and use of B40 to help reduce Indonesia's balance sheet deficit since the use of biofuels will lessen the consumption of fossil fuel products, which are usually imported by Indonesia.

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The ministry is targeting to complete the road test by the end of 2022 and provide technical recommendations for B40 implementation policies.

Meanwhile, director general for new, renewable energy, and energy conservation (EBTKE) at the ministry, Dadan Kusdiana, informed that 12 vehicles will carry out the road test.

They consist of six vehicles weighing under 3.5 tons each, with a daily trip distance target of 560 kilometers (km) and a total trip range of 50 thousand km, and six other vehicles weighing above 3.5 tons each, with a daily trip range target of 400 km and a total trip distance of 40 thousand km.

Kusdiana said that the B40 road test will also include the handling and analysis of fuel consumption, quality test of fuel and lubricants, performance test using the chassis dynamometer, merit rating test of vehicle components, as well as vehicle stability test.

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Translator: Sugiharto Purnama, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
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