The Agriculture Ministry started on Monday the trial period for the use of a 100-percent biodiesel (B100) of fuel that uses fatty acid methyl ester from crude palm oil (CPO) in a move that expands its reach within the domestic palm oil market and reduces the dependency on imported fossil fuels.

Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman said during the event that the trial would involve 50 of the ministry's official cars and tractors.

He said B100 fuel allowed vehicles to travel 13.1 kilometers per liter, which was more efficient than using Solar-branded fossil fuels that limited travel to 9.6 kilometers per liter.

In early testing, cars that used B100 fuel could travel 6,000 kilometers in total, he added.

The ministry also began discussing the possible mass production of B100 fuel with state-owned enterprises and private companies. Amran estimated the commercial price of B100 to be around Rp 8,000 (57 US cents) per liter.

"Users should not only think about cutting costs, but they have also to think about protecting the environment. B100 produces less pollution than diesel [fossil] fuels," he said on the sidelines of the launch.

Amran expressed hope that the widespread use of B100 could be implemented to cut imports of fossil fuels and boost the domestic use of CPO amid the European Union's campaign against the commodity.

In September, 2018, Indonesia issued a policy to begin the widespread use of 20 percent blended biodiesel (B20) and would soon campaign for the use of B30 fuel. (ark/bbn)