RI's Biodiesel Consumption up 100 Pct in October

Jakarta (Antara) - Indonesia's biodiesel consumption more than doubled in October from August after the energy and mineral resources minister issued a regulation to boost fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) content in diesel fuel mixes. Director of Bioenergy at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Dadan Kusdiana said on Wednesday that biodiesel consumption jumped 100 percent to 116,281 kiloliters in October, from 57,871 kiloliters in August. In September, biodiesel consumption reached 101,857 kiloliters, he said. The regulation requires a minimum of 10 percent biodiesel in diesel mixes used for transportation, industries, commercial businesses and power plants as of September 2013. The regulation was issued as part of the government's stimulus package aimed at lowering fuel imports to curb the current account deficit, which was partly blamed for the weakening rupiah. Dadan said the use of biodiesel in September had helped the country to save US$75.88 million in foreign exchange and reduce the fuel subsidy by US$2,84 million. In October, the country saved US$85.83 million in foreign exchange due to the use of biodiesel, he added. "The total foreign exchange saved in September and October 2013 reached US$161.71 million," he said. He noted that state electricity company PT PLN in October raised the FAME content in its diesel mixes to 4,814 kiloliters, while its pure plant oil (PPO) consumption reached 228 kiloliters. (*)