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Agriculture Ministry conducts B100 biofuel trial run on cars, tractors
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Illustration of clean fuel (Shutterstock/petrmalinak)
T
he Agriculture Ministry has developed B100 biofuel, which is made of palm oil, in an effort to boost domestic crude palm oil (CPO) consumption amid resistance from the European Union.
Experts lauded the achievement but said it was too early for automakers to produce vehicles that could run on the environmentally friendly biofuel.
Speaking after a trial run of 50 cars and tractors using the biofuel in Jakarta, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaeman said automakers should produce agricultural vehicles that could run on the biofuel, which was developed by the ministry's research and development arm.
Amran said the ministry would focus on developing it for the agricultural sector.
"This year, I will ask producers of tractors to make adjustments in the engines of their products so that they can run on B100 biofuel," he added.
A researcher with the ministry, Asif Aunillah, said such adjustments were necessary because producers made engines that were only compatible with diesel.
"In cars, for example, the rubber seals would usually enlarge when they are in contact with biodiesel. So they need to be modified," he added.
