Wilmar begins development of palm oil-based jet biofuel

PT Wilmar Nabati Indonesia is developing a palm oil-based jet biofuel at its plant in the province of East Java. Daily Jakarta Post said that the company, which is a unit of Singaporean palm oil producer Wilmar International, is entering into a partnership with U.S.-based Elevance Renewable Sciences to produce aviation biofuel at its East Java plant, with an investment of US$80 million. The bio refinery began operations in December 2011. PT Wilmar Executive Director Taufik Tamin said the company’s goal is to reach a daily production capacity of 500 tons of biofuel, with a composition of 80% biodiesel and 20% bio-olefin by the fourth quarter of 2012. Bio-olefin is a key aviation biofuel component which needs further processing, so it will take Wilmar several years to produce ready-to-use jet biofuel. Tamin added that Wilmar will enter into a partnership with state-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina to produce jet biofuel. (April 11, 2012)