Paulus Tjakrawan Taningdjaja discusses the importance of investing in biodiesel to reduce emissions

Ahead of the Sustainable Innovation Forum taking place in Katowice, Poland on the 9th and 10th December, we caught up with Paulus Tjakrawan Taningdjaja, Commissioner at Indonesia Biofuels Producer Association, to discuss the importance of investing in biodiesel to reduce emissions.

What is your current mandate at the Indonesian Biofuels Producer Association?

For 10 years the Indonesian Biofuels Producer Association has continued to work with the Government and various parties to seek the development of Vegetable Fuels in Indonesia and fight for them in the International Forum. The Biodiesel mandatory implementation was started by B5, and the percentage of Biodiesel increased to 15% in 2015. To increase the Biodiesel percentages we have made a great deal of effort to improve the Biodiesel quality. To go from B15 to B20, we carried out several exams including the rail test with the involvement of Automotive Manufacture Association, Railway Company, some Research Centers, Oil Company, it was also supported by Heavy Equipment Manufacture Association. We also tested the power, engine, road and the impact of injector tests. The results were outstanding, especially in CO2eq reduction.

You’re joining us at SIF18 to speak about your journey towards 30% biodiesel being used in all cars in Indonesia by 2020.  Can you give us a sneak preview of some key points?

To achieve the B30 implementation, we are now improving Indonesia Biodiesel quality standard. Delivering the full backing of all the stakeholders, we have engine testing, road test, etc. As a result we hope testing is finished by the 3rd quarter of 2019.

How is this goal helping to support and grow the labor/jobs market in Indonesia?

The Biodiesel mandate program has multi dimension goals for energy security, poverty relief, and employment opportunities. The B30 program will create 686,000 jobs in the upstream/feedstock industries and about 4,000 in the Biodiesel industries and also around 1,000 jobs in indirect roles like truck drivers, vessel operators, etc. In Indonesia in November 2018 close to 7 million people were unemployed, so the Biodiesel program has important roles in reducing this unemployment.

What do you think is the most crucial factor to reach your 2020 goal?

As no other countries have made 30% biodiesel mix mandatory, we realize that there are some critical points that we have to overcome. First is the price, if Biodiesel prices are higher than diesel fuel we could look into implementing a carbon tax for diesel/fossil fuel and have a tax reduction for the use of renewable energy. The second is the Biodiesel compatibility to meet the existing transportation engine, which is why we aim to improve our Biodiesel quality standard. The third one is to get support from stakeholders.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

We have been developing Biodiesel in Indonesia since the outset, which gives us an advantage on the future of the Biodiesel industry. We all have to be involved in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the capabilities, conditions and availability of local materials. Indonesia is rich in Biofuels raw materials, therefore we must evolve them and use them for the environment.

The Indonesia Biofuels Producer Association are a strategic partner at the Sustainable Innovation Forum 2018 which is taking place in Katowice, Poland on the 9th and 10th of December, find out more here.