28-10-2023 (JAKARTA) Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of palm oil, marked a significant milestone on Friday by conducting its first commercial flight using palm oil-blended jet fuel. In an effort to reduce fuel imports and promote the use of biofuels, the flight was operated by the national flag carrier, Garuda Indonesia.
The flight took off from the capital city, Jakarta, and transported over 100 passengers to Surakarta, a city located approximately 550 kilometers (341.75 miles) away, as confirmed by Garuda Indonesia’s CEO, Irfan Setiaputra.
During a ceremony, Irfan expressed the airline’s commitment to explore the commercial viability of this new fuel. He emphasized the need for collaboration with key stakeholders, including Pertamina, the Indonesian state energy firm, and the Ministry of Energy, to ensure that the palm oil-blended jet fuel becomes a commercially viable option. The aircraft was scheduled to return to Jakarta later on the same day.
The journey towards this pioneering flight involved several stages of testing. Garuda Indonesia conducted a series of assessments, including a flight test using the new fuel earlier in the month and an engine ground test in August.
The palm oil-blended jet fuel is produced at the Cilacap refinery of PT Pertamina, the state-owned energy company. This innovative fuel is created using hydroprocessed esters and fatty acid (HEFA) technology and consists of refined bleached deodorized palm kernel oil.
