SAF as an Alternative Solution: Pertamina Reduces Carbon Emissions and Engages the Public in Waste Management

Baku, November 17, 2024 – PT Pertamina (Persero) has been developing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) based on vegetable oil for several years. This year, SAF has expanded its benefits, not only by reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector but also by addressing household and industrial waste issues.  

Senior Vice President of Research & Technology Innovation, Oki Muraza, explained that Pertamina has developed used cooking oil (UCO) as a raw material for SAF.  

Previously, Pertamina’s SAF development utilized palm oil as crude palm oil (CPO) or refined bleached deodorized palm kernel oil (RBDPKO).  

Pertamina has initiated steps to collect UCO from various sources, including households, restaurants, and food processing industries. The SAF processing technology, utilizing the Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) pathway, enables UCO into fuel-compatible conversion with existing aviation infrastructure.  

Oki emphasized that by next year, SAF derived from UCO could be commercially viable. The goal is to conduct a joy flight using SAF on a Pelita Air aircraft, a Pertamina Group airline, in the first quarter of next year.  

According to Oki, Indonesia’s potential UCO collection could reach 1.24 million kiloliters annually. However, challenges such as public awareness and the widespread distribution of UCO sources remain major obstacles.  

To address these challenges, Pertamina, through PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, has initiated a pre-marketing program in Bali, supplying SAF to several airlines.  

“At the Bali Air Show, we helped our customers reduce emissions by up to 84% using this SAF,” said Riva Siahaan, CEO of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga.  

Riva highlighted the importance of collaboration to expand production capacity. In the long term, Pertamina aims to increase UCO collection from 0.3 million tons in 2023 to 1.5 million tons by 2030 to support SAF production and other low-carbon fuels. This strategy involves 2collaboration with both government and private sectors to expand UCO collection and storage infrastructure.  

“SAF’s success relies not only on technology but also on supportive regulations, government incentives, and public-private sector cooperation. With Pertamina One Solution, we are optimistic about driving sustainable energy transitions in the aviation sector,” said Riva.  

Nizhar Marizi, the Director of Energy, Mineral Resources, and Mining of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), noted that regulations are being developed to support SAF development in Indonesia. These regulations address two major challenges: UCO export quotas and tariffs and UCO collection management development to ensure its quality as a feedstock for fuel production.  

Emma Fenton, Senior Director of Climate Diplomacy of Opportunity Green, United Kingdom, praised Pertamina’s UCO utilization as a circular economy application. She called Pertamina’s efforts an inspiring example of integrating sustainability into the aviation sector, which has significantly contributed to carbon emissions.  

“What stands out is Indonesia’s holistic approach—leveraging an extensive network of community partnerships, petrol stations, and refineries to build a robust UCO collection and production system. By aligning domestic efforts with global standards and collaborating with international partners, Indonesia is positioning itself as a potential leader in SAF production and regional energy diplomacy,” said Emma.  

Emma emphasized that Indonesia demonstrates the potential of public-private collaboration to drive positive impact. It is a crucial moment for the global community to support such initiatives, which enable economic growth while taking concrete action against climate change.  

“I look forward to seeing how this partnership evolves and contributes to our shared goal of achieving net-zero emissions in the aviation sector by 2050,” Emma concluded.

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.**