Pertamina develops biodiesel fuel

State-run oil and gas company Pertamina is developing biodiesel as an alternative fuel from jarak pagar (Jatropha curcas) tree oil, which is expected to be able to reduce fuel consumption at home by up to 100,000 barrel a day.

In a press release provided on Thursday, the company’s chief executive officer Widya Purnama said that in the initial stage the company was planting the tree on some three hectares of land, and was working with the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and PT Rekayasa Industri industrial engineering firm to develop the alternative fuel.

The Jakarta Post