Jakarta, INTI - PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) Regional Division I North Sumatra has officially transitioned all of its railway operations from B40 biodiesel to B50 biodiesel as of 5 July 2026. The move supports Indonesia’s Blue Sky Program, promotes energy independence by reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and complies with the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Decree No. 257.K/EK.01/MEM.E/2026.
During the initial implementation period from 5–10 July 2026, KAI Regional Division I North Sumatra consumed approximately 97,580 liters of B50 biodiesel. Operational evaluations confirmed that the transition was carried out smoothly without affecting railway services.
Smooth Implementation Across Railway Operations
B50 biodiesel has been fully deployed to power locomotives, power generator cars, and other operational railway equipment across North Sumatra.
Anwar Yuli Prastyo, Manager of Public Relations at KAI Regional Division I North Sumatra, stated, “Since the introduction of B50, railway operations have continued to run normally. We are closely monitoring the performance of our rolling stock to ensure that passenger and freight services remain safe, reliable, comfortable, and on schedule.”
The transition follows the Indonesian Government’s initiative to accelerate national energy self-sufficiency while reducing dependence on imported diesel fuel. B50 biodiesel consists of a blend of 50 percent palm oil-based biodiesel and 50 percent conventional diesel.
Supporting Cleaner Air and Lower Carbon Emissions
According to Anwar, adopting B50 biodiesel is expected to improve air quality in North Sumatra by producing lower emissions than conventional diesel and the previously used B40 blend.
From a technical perspective, B50 has been shown to reduce exhaust smoke opacity by up to 10.5 percent. At the national level, broader adoption of B50 is projected to cut an additional 4.8 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions compared with B40, which previously generated approximately 39.66 million tons of CO₂ emissions.
Prior to the transition, KAI Regional Division I North Sumatra used more than 3.07 million liters of B40 biodiesel to support its railway operations between 1 January and 4 July 2026.
“With the adoption of B50 biodiesel, KAI is not only reducing its dependence on fossil fuels but also actively contributing to cleaner skies in North Sumatra,” Anwar said. “We remain fully committed to maintaining the reliability of our railway assets so that our environmental initiatives go hand in hand with operational safety.”
KAI also reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with government agencies and industry stakeholders to ensure that the implementation of B50 biodiesel supports Indonesia’s green energy transition while maintaining safe, reliable, and efficient railway services.
Conclusion
KAI Regional Division I North Sumatra's adoption of B50 biodiesel marks a significant step toward cleaner railway operations, supporting Indonesia's energy transition while reducing emissions and maintaining reliable transportation services.
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