Garuda Indonesia, the national flag carrier, has achieved a significant milestone by completing a successful test flight using jet fuel blended with palm oil on a Boeing 737-800NG aircraft. The one-hour test flight covered a distance of more than 130 kilometers, traveling from Jakarta, the capital city, to Pelabuhan Ratu in the southern part of Java island and back. The blended jet fuel contained 2.4% palm content.
Garuda's Chief Executive, Irfan Setiaputra, announced the successful test flight and expressed the airline's readiness to explore the use of sustainable aviation fuel on commercial flights. He emphasized that broader adoption of this fuel would depend on a comprehensive study.
Before conducting the test flight, Garuda had conducted static tests and engine ground tests since July to ensure the viability and safety of the palm oil-blended jet fuel.
The palm oil-blended jet fuel used in the test flight was produced by Indonesia's state energy company, PT Pertamina, at its Cilacap refinery. This fuel was manufactured using hydroprocessed esters and fatty acid (HEFA) technology and is derived from refined bleached deodorized palm kernel oil, as explained by Pertamina's CEO, Nicke Widyawati. The use of this fuel is believed to result in lower emissions compared to traditional fossil fuels.
Nicke Widyawati expressed hopes that the palm oil-blended jet fuel could eventually be sold for commercial flights, marking a significant milestone in Indonesia's green energy development.
It's worth noting that while palm oil is a key component in the production of this sustainable aviation fuel, some countries have raised concerns about the environmental impact of palm oil production, particularly deforestation. The European Union has imposed restrictions on palm oil imports due to these concerns.
Indonesia, the world's largest palm oil producer, has been actively promoting the use of edible oils like palm oil as a way to reduce its reliance on crude oil imports. In 2021, the country conducted a test flight with the same sustainable aviation fuel on an aircraft manufactured by the state-owned company Dirgantara Indonesia, flying from Bandung in West Java to the capital city, Jakarta.
