Pertamina Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): Evidence of the Aviation Industry's Energy Transition

Jakarta, October 27, 2023 - PT Pertamina (Persero) reaffirms its commitment to developing Pertamina Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), a sustainable aviation fuel with a renewable energy content blend. Today, on Friday (27/10), Pertamina SAF is being launched through a collaborative mission between Pertamina and the commercial airline Garuda Indonesia.

SAF development is one of Pertamina's efforts in the energy transition, especially in the aviation business, while supporting the Net Zero Emission (NZE) 2060 target achievement. Pertamina SAF is an environmentally friendly fuel that uses a mixture of palm oil components in the SAF formula to reduce aircraft emissions. Additionally, palm oil components utilization can stimulate domestic industrial and economic development.

"Pertamina, as a leader in the energy transition, plays a role in building an environmentally friendly ecosystem. By developing green fuel, we are determined to fulfill the energy sovereignty mandate and Indonesia’s demands. One of which is this SAF product, which represents the aviation industry’s future," explained the President Director of Pertamina, Nicke Widyawati.

After a series of SAF development stages and reliability testing, today, on Friday (27/10), Pertamina, in collaboration with the state-owned enterprise Garuda Indonesia, will carry out flights from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to Adi Soemarmo International Airport using Pertamina SAF. Through this commercial flight implementation, the public can experience the benefits of using renewable energy with the same quality as fossil energy.

To prepare for this flight, Pertamina conducted SAF refueling at the Soekarno-Hatta Fuel Terminal and Hydrant Installation (SHAFTHI) in Cengkareng on Thursday (26/10). SAF refueling will also be carried out at the Adi Soemarmo Aircraft Refueling Depot (DPPU) in Surakarta before the fleet returns to Soekarno-Hatta later today.

Pertamina SAF also underwent a test flight on October 4, 2023. SAF went through ground round and flight test stages on a commercial Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft with registration number PK-GFX, owned by Garuda Indonesia. The test flight lasted for 60 minutes, crossing the Pelabuhan Ratu airspace.

Pertamina SAF is the result of innovation and collaboration among Pertamina's sub-holdings. Through Green Refinery facility at PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional in Cilacap, SAF is produced using the co-processing Hydrotreated Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) method, following international standards. SAF will be marketed through PT Pertamina Patra Niaga to the aviation industry in Indonesia and potentially to the international aviation market.

SAF has many advantages, one of which a is lower emissions compared to conventional fossil-based fuels. Environmentally friendly aviation fuel utilization will also be mandatory in 2026 in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization's Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) framework, which is currently in the Voluntary Pilot Phase this year.

"Pertamina's success in producing SAF marks a first in Southeast Asia. Pertamina SAF is projected to be an environmentally friendly product that can be marketed to aviation businesses (Airlines) and serves as evidence of Pertamina's consistency in green energy development in Indonesia, contributing to decarbonization programs," stated Nicke.

Pertamina, as a leading company in the energy transition, is committed to supporting the Net Zero Emission 2060 target by continuously promoting programs that directly impact the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achievement. All these efforts align with Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) implementation across all Pertamina's business lines and operations.**