Komatsu, partners mark full start-up of biodiesel project

The three partner companies, Komatsu Ltd., PT Adaro Energy Tbk and PT United Tractors Tbk, marked the full start-up of its biodiesel project at the Adaro Coal Mine in Kalimantan, Indonesia, with an opening ceremony held on May 31. Two new facilities are now operational, including a biodiesel refinery and an analytical laboratory. The new plant, which has a production capacity of 1.2 tons per day, will produce European standard EN14214 BDF from jatropha. The goal is to eventually use the fuel produced by the biodiesel project in all of the 785 dump trucks used at the mine. Ultimately, PT Adaro plans to plant jatropha on areas adjacent to its mine. (May 31, 2011)