Indonesia’s B50 biodiesel programme draws global interest ahead of July rollout

Indonesia’s planned 50% biodiesel blend mandate is set to become the first programme of its kind in the world, with several countries already approaching Jakarta to study and replicate the model, a senior Energy Ministry official said, the Jakarta Globe reported.

The programme, known as B50, is scheduled for implementation from July 1 and is currently in the trial phase, with road testing on diesel-powered vehicles already under way. Testing has now expanded to include diesel rail operations.

Eniya Listiyani Dewi, Director General of Renewable Energy at Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, said the country began developing biodiesel blending programmes approximately 15 years ago and has since successfully deployed a 40% biodiesel mix, known as B40, without significant technical problems. She said the progression to a 50% blend was the outcome of sustained research and development over many years.

“There are no technical references we can access. We are moving forward without an example to follow, and that is something we are proud of,” Eniya said. She added that multiple countries had already reached out to Indonesia to learn how B50 could be developed, noting that no comparable reference exists elsewhere. She did not name the countries involved.

On the railway testing front, Eniya said trials would begin with diesel generators operating on the Yogyakarta–Jakarta route, followed by tests on diesel locomotives. The generator trial is set to run for 2,400 operating hours, after which locomotive testing will be conducted on the Surabaya–Jakarta route over a period of six months. The final phase of B50 railway testing is expected to conclude in October 2026.
“We are conducting trials under real operating conditions so we can see the actual results,” she said.

Eniya noted that a broader B50 trial programme covering automotive use, mining equipment, agricultural machinery, shipping, and power generators was launched on December 9 last year, following extensive laboratory testing. Railway trials had been delayed pending the end of the annual Eid al-Fitr passenger travel period in late March.

Heru Kuswanto, Infrastructure Management Director at state-owned railway operator KAI, said the company was working closely with the Energy Ministry to evaluate the performance of locomotive engines and generators on the new fuel blend. He said safety, security, and continuous technical evaluation remained the foremost priorities to ensure the reliability of railway assets throughout the trial period.
“We hope the program runs smoothly and delivers optimal benefits for the railway industry while supporting the national energy transition and sustainable, environmentally friendly transportation,” Heru said.