Pertamina – Toyota Collaboration: 100% Bioethanol Trial at GIIAS 2024

Jakarta, July 24, 2024 – Pertamina continues to sharpen its competencies and expand collaborations to promote bioenergy development and utilization across various sectors. At the GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2024, Pertamina and Toyota conducted the first fueling and test drive using Bioethanol from Sorghum plants.

During the test drive at GIIAS 2024, 100% Bioethanol (E100), produced from Sorghum plants, was utilized as an alternative fuel in Toyota's Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV).

Senior Vice President of Research & Technology Innovation of PT Pertamina (Persero), Oki Muraza, explained that for the test drive at GIIAS 2024, Pertamina has produced 150 liters of Bioethanol from biomass waste, specifically Sorghum stalks. The production process of this biofuel utilized distillation and dehydration equipment at Pertamina's Technology Innovation Laboratory facilities.

"Sorghum juice was obtained through collaboration with universities that have conducted planting tests on several plots of land. The resulting juice was fermented into Bioethanol and subsequently purified," Oki revealed during the Bioethanol trial at GIIAS 2024.

Oki added that Pertamina's produced Bioethanol, tested in Toyota Fortuner Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFV), showed improved performance with more complete combustion and lower emissions when compared to conventional fossil fuels.

Pertamina's next steps, Oki stated, are to scale up Bioethanol production from a laboratory scale to a larger scale. Additionally, Pertamina is exploring partnerships to secure the supply of Sorghum and other plant materials.

"Producing Bioethanol from Sorghum not only provides a new renewable energy source for Indonesia but also innovates by producing fuel without competing with food resources. It can create new jobs and small-medium enterprises in the Sorghum cultivation sector, juice processing, and Bioethanol production," Oki added.

Vice President of Corporate Communication at PT Pertamina (Persero), Fadjar Djoko Santoso, revealed that Pertamina, a leader in sustainable energy transition, encourages Bioethanol utilization as a transportation fuel. Today, Pertamina showcases its latest innovation, 100% Bioethanol (E100), and at the same time, Pertamina is gradually implementing Bioethanol in Indonesia, starting with Pertamax Green 95, a fuel with 5% Bioethanol content (E5).

Fadjar stated that the E5 implementation in upstream to downstream industries could provide benefits such as reducing national gasoline imports, creating new jobs, increasing GDP, and potentially contributing to a reduction in emissions by 2.8 million tons of CO2 or 1.9% of annual emissions.

"Bioethanol utilization will strengthen Pertamina's roadmap in developing New Renewable Energy. Pertamina will gradually support the government's program to achieve the Net Zero Emission target by 2060," said Fadjar.

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.**