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KAI Supports B40 Trial on Trains
WINDONESIA July 27, 2024
Passengers wait for an intercity train at Pasar Senen railway station in Central Jakarta on Dec. 6, 2023. State-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) adds 84 train trips for the Christmas and New Year holidays between Dec. 21, 2023 and Jan.
Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) is supporting the Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ministry in testing the application of B40 fuel for trains. This trial took place at Lempuyangan Station, Yogyakarta, on July 22, 2024, using the Bogowonto train on the Lempuyangan-Pasar Senen route.
B40 is a blend of 60 percent diesel and 40 percent biofuel derived from palm oil. The use of this fuel is expected to be a strategic solution to reduce diesel consumption and exhaust emissions.
"KAI fully supports the government’s policy through the use of B40 fuel for train transportation. This aligns with KAI’s goal to provide more environmentally friendly transportation services," KAI Vice President Public Relations, Anne Purba.
Currently, KAI uses 300 million liters of B35 fuel, which includes 35 percent biofuel. During its usage, the train engines have operated without issues. Therefore, KAI is confident that the transition from B35 to B40 will proceed smoothly, given that the specifications of both types of fuel are almost identical.
ESDM Ministry New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) Director-General Eniya Listiani Dewi explained that this limited performance test aims to evaluate the durability of the Bogowonto train’s generator set over 1,200 hours. With an estimated one round trip of the Bogowonto train from Lempuyangan to Pasar Senen taking 22 hours, it is expected to require 50 round trips, or about two months, to complete the test.
"We hope all usage tests can be completed by December so that full use of B40 can be implemented in 2025," said Eniya.
ESDM Ministry's Oil and Gas Directorate-General Oil and Gas Research and Development Center for Oil and Gas (Lemigas) Head Mustafid Gunawan stated that the usage test on trains is being conducted for both locomotive engines and train generator sets. The locomotive engine test is being carried out on a freight train route from Jakarta to Surabaya, while the generator set test is being conducted on the Bogowonto train route from Lempuyangan to Pasar Senen.
To conduct these usage tests, KAI has built fuel blending and refueling facilities at five locations, namely the Cipinang Locomotive Depot in Jakarta, Arjawinangun Station in Cirebon Regency, Cepu Station in Blora Regency, Lempuyangan Station in Yogyakarta, and the Surabaya Pasarturi Station in Surabaya.
Source: harianmerahputih.id