Indonesia’s Energy Ministry says B50 passes 1,000-hour mining test without problems

Indonesia’s Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry says B50 biodiesel has completed a 1,000-hour durability test in the mining sector without significant problems, clearing a key test before wider mandatory use.

Eniya Listiani Dewi, the ministry’s director general for new, renewable energy and energy conservation, said the test ran at three different mining companies. The six-month testing program reached its required duration, and officials reported no major technical problems.

“This has exceeded the required testing limit. So we can confirm that it is safe in mining operations. This was also demonstrated by the mining companies themselves at three locations,” Eniya said in Jakarta.

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This has exceeded the required testing limit. So we can confirm that it is safe in mining operations. This was also demonstrated by the mining companies themselves at three locations.

The ministry said one positive finding involved engine-filter durability. Under normal conditions, filters typically need replacement after 250 hours of use. With B50, the filters lasted as long as 500 hours.

The testing program also included heavy mining equipment, private vehicles, public transport and power-generating engines. Tests on several cars continued for up to 50,000 kilometres. In older-specification vehicles, filters were replaced only after 37,000 kilometres, compared with a normal replacement interval of 10,000 kilometres. Eniya said the ministry conducted the process openly and involved stakeholders connected to the planned B50 rollout.

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We tested for up to 50,000 kilometres, and some cars with older specifications only needed a filter replacement after reaching 37,000 kilometres, compared with the usual 10,000 kilometres.