<article><p class="lead">Indonesian state-owned refiner Pertamina is proceeding to the next phase in its development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) after trialling the fuel in commercial aircraft engines. </p><p>The firm carried out static tests of SAF on jet engines, the first step in ensuring that SAF can be used in commercial aircraft, the firm said on 29 July. The next testing phase includes ground and flight tests. Further details on the timeline for testing and development were not provided. </p><p>Pertamina has previously used SAF in military aircraft in 2021 and carried out successful test flights using CN-235 aircraft in 2022, according to the firm.</p><p>Pertamina produces SAF through the co-processing method, which simultaneously processes vegetable oil feedstock and gasoline into green hydrocarbons, namely bio aviation fuel, said the firm's vice-president of corporate communications Fadjar Djoko Santoso.</p><p>Pertamina is pushing for the use of SAF in commercial flights as part of its energy transition efforts to achieve net zero emissions by 2060. Its initiatives include setting up "green refineries", which use renewable feedstock like refined bleached deodorised palm oil, at its existing plants.</p><p>The "green refinery" at Pertamina's 348,000 b/d Cilacap plant can <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2159610">produce renewable diesel and has a capacity of 3,000 b/d</a>. The fuel is already available domestically.</p><p>The firm plans to further expand its "green fuel" output, with the second phase of the "green refinery" at Cilacap aimed at increasing processing capacity to 6,000 b/d and including more types of feedstock, such as used cooking oil. This second phase is targeted to come on stream by 2026.</p><p>Pertamina has developed a roadmap based on the country's national energy general plan, which is based on forecasts that demand for oil products will continue to rise until 2040. The firm aims to increase its refinery processing capacity from 1.05mn b/d to 1.4mn b/d, oil product production from 700,000 b/d to 1.2mn b/d and petrochemical output from 1.6mn t/yr to 7.4mn t/yr.</p><p>The firm also aims to increase its production of biofuels. It last year managed to abate <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2464885">28mn t of carbon dioxide emissions by producing more B35 biodiesel</a>, said its chief executive Nicke Widyawati, adding that it plans to launch a new bioethanol product made from sugarcane and cassava later this year.</p><p class="bylines">By Prethika Nair</p></article>
