The signing of the cooperation took place at the PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional, Refinery Unit IV Cilacap. After signing, the event continued with a field visit to the biohydrocarbon and bioavtur technology pilot plant.

This development process is related to the building of the palm oil based biohydrocarbon and bioavtur diesel production pilot plant. This pilot plant that will be built in the Refinery Unit IV Cilacap area will have a capacity of 1300 L/day and is planned to start operating in early 2024.

The development activity of the biohydrocarbon and bioavtur diesel production demo unit is part of the Proyek Strategis Nasional program that has been established by the Indonesian Government through Permenko Perekonomian No 22 tahun 2022. Activities that are fully supported by all stakeholders are coordinated by the Directorate of Bioenergy, Directorate General of New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia.

ITB's involvement was represented by the FTI ITB Chemical Reaction and Catalysis Techniques Laboratory and the ITB Center for Catalysis Engineering. Along with Pertamina RTI and Rekind , ITB contributed to the design of the biohydrocarbon and bioavtur diesel production process. Meanwhile, the design and development of the catalyst that will be used in this production process has been jointly initiated by Pertamina RTI and ITB since 2010.

The signing was carried out by the President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero) Nicke Widyawati; President Director of PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional Taufik Adityawarman; Director of Bioenergy and General Directorate General of New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Edi Wibowo; Head of Balai Besar Pengujian Minyak dan Gas Bumi Lembaga Minyak dan Gas Bumi (Lemigas) represented by Ariana Soemanto; President Director of PT Rekayasa Industri (Rekind) Triyani Utaminingsih; President Director of PT Pupuk Sriwidjaya (Pusri) Tri Wahyudi Saleh; and Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) Vice Rector for Research and Innovation Prof. Dr. I Gede Wenten, represented by the ITB Head of Partnership Bureau Prof. Dr. Taufiq Hidayat. After the signing ceremony, the guests had the opportunity to see the existing refining facilities firsthand there.

The Rector of ITB Prof. Reini Wirahadikusumah, Ph.D. stated that through this collaboration, the triple helix concept between universities, industries and the government in the energy independence field for the nation will strengthen. ITB itself is the only PTN involved in this collaboration.

“This collaboration may be one of the very few successful stories or true stories from the triple helix concept. We must 'viralize' it to raise national optimism, so that there will be more triple helix collaborations involving various research institutions in Indonesia. Many people next in line have been prepared with great care thanks to the guidance that Prof. Subagjo has given,” said the Rector.

Meanwhile, Faculty of Industrial Technology Professor and Head of Chemical Reaction and Catalysis Techniques Laboratory Prof. Subagyo said that this research is an energy independence gift for the nation.

Reporter: Adi Permana
Translator: Hanna Daniela Ayu (Aerospace Engineering, 2021)