The government is trying to sign the import of fuel oil, one of which is the conversion of fuel oil (BBM) to fuel gas (BBG). However, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif revealed that there are several challenges in realizing this.
One of them is at the stage of modifying the car. The reason is so that BBG can be used in car engines, at least, it needs a converter kit.
“Well, then the desire of the community itself, if it grows in the community in the sense of the word tiered starting from the elements of the government to the community. For example, which is already running in Semarang, this BBG should be followed by other regions,” said Arifin at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Building. , Thursday (11/8/2022).
Arifin realizes that the conversion program to BBG needs to be encouraged, especially when the domestic gas supply is quite abundant. Moreover, the cost of using CNG for four-wheeled vehicles is proven to be much cheaper when compared to BBM.
Therefore, he hopes that this BBG conversion program can be socialized to the wider community. Considering that in addition to being more efficient than fuel, the results of gas combustion are also cleaner.
“Well, this must be socialized. Our gas is also quite large and it is better to be independent with our capabilities than BBM,” he said.
DEN member Eri Purnomohadi explained that the program for converting fuel to gas, including CNG, is part of the road map of the National Energy Policy (KEN) contained in the energy transition road map.
This includes the energy transition program to the use of natural gas as household fuel and coal gasification (Dimethyl Ether/DME) as an alternative energy substitute for LPG.
“Similarly, BBG is used for industry and transportation to increase the use of domestic gas to meet domestic needs and reduce dependence on energy imports,” he said.
However, there are several challenges to intensifying the BBG program. For example, gas contracts in the upstream sector have a strategic role in influencing gas prices downstream to the end users.
The gas contract itself includes volume, price, period, delivery point, and transportation, to Mother Station. Meanwhile, from the Mother Station itself, there are also distribution costs up to the end user’s handover point.
“This is indeed a target in the DEN (BBG conversion) which is also related to the 2025 Energy Mix of 23% of the achievement of the National Energy Mix,” he said.
Where, he said, to achieve the target of the 23% clean energy mix, at least several energy transition programs must be implemented. Such as accelerating the implementation of the use of Battery-Based Electric Motorized Vehicles (KBLBB), the conversion program for LPG stoves to induction cookers, and the DME coal gasification project as an alternative energy substitute for LPG.
“And increasing the use of gas (industry and households) then increasing the use of PLTS Roofs and so on,” he said.
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