Pertamina's Chief Commissioner Appreciates Sorghum-Based Bioethanol Innovation

Tangerang, July 27, 2024 - Pertamina continues to undertake various efforts and promote innovations, especially in green energy, to achieve national security and independence. It includes the innovation of bioethanol products as fuel derived from sorghum.

Following the successful trial of bioethanol product in two Toyota Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) last Wednesday (24/07), Pertamina's Chief Commissioner, Simon Aloysius Mantiri, had the opportunity to test the performance of Pertamina's bioethanol in a Toyota FFV by conducting a test drive at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) in ICE BSD, on Friday, July 26, 2024.

After the test drive, Simon appreciated Pertamina officers who successfully developed this green bioethanol product from sorghum. He hopes that Pertamina officers will continue to innovate in creating green energy. Thus, it can be widely used in other vehicles to reduce emissions.

"I appreciate the innovation and achievements of Pertamina officers. I have test-driven the Toyota FFV powered by bioethanol. It feels just like using regular fuel. Everything is smooth and good," said Simon.

Pertamina has produced 150 liters of bioethanol from biomass waste, specifically the stems of sorghum plants. The production of this biofuel involves distillation and dehydration equipment located in Pertamina's Technology Innovation Laboratory.

Pertamina's next step is to scale up bioethanol production from the laboratory to a larger scale. Producing bioethanol from sorghum stems not only provides a new renewable energy source for Indonesia but also produces fuel without competing with food resources.

Simon also encouraged and urged Pertamina officers to innovate to create more beneficial works for the nation's life, including promoting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) aspects and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"Pertamina officers, let us continue to support Pertamina in the energy sector. Hopefully, Pertamina becomes the driving force for national energy resilience, achieving energy self-sufficiency through environmentally friendly innovations," he concluded.

At the same event, Simon appreciated Pertamina's presence at GIIAS 2024. He believes at this event, Pertamina can showcase its support for the automotive sector, especially within the Indonesian automotive ecosystem. It includes showcasing superior fuel products, lubricants, Green Energy gas stations, collaboration with racing teams, and innovations in environmentally friendly fuels.

"Through Pertamina's presence at GIIAS 2024, I hope the automotive industry will continue to grow, as will Pertamina, which supports the presence of environmentally friendly green fuel," he said.**