Institut Teknologi Bandung signed a cooperation agreement in the field of research and development of diesel biohydrocarbon and bioavtur technology, Tuesday (16/8/2022). This development process is related to the construction of a pilot plant for the production of diesel biohydrocarbons and palm oil-based bioavtur. The pilot plant to be built in the Refinery Unit IV area of ​​Cilacap has a capacity of 1300 L/day and is planned to start operating in early 2024.

The signing of the cooperation took place at PT Pertamina International Refinery, Refinery Unit IV Cilacap. This synergy is stated through the Agreement on Research and Development of Biohydrocarbon Diesel Technology and Bioavtur which was held at the Patra Graha Building, Cilacap Refinery, Tuesday (16/8/2022). The signing was carried out by the President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero), Nicke Widyawati as the Acting Director of SPPU Pertamina, the President Director of PT Pertamina International Refinery Taufik Adityawarman; Director of Bioenergy, Directorate General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Edi Wibowo; Head of the Center for Oil and Gas Testing of the Oil and Gas Institute (Lemigas) represented by Ariana Soemanto; President Director of PT Rekayasa Industri (Rekind) Triyani Utaminingsih; President Director of PT Pupuk Sriwidjaya (Pusri), Tri Wahyudi Saleh; and Research and Innovation at the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) by WRRI ITB Prof. Dr. I Gede Wenten, represented by the Head of the ITB Partnership Bureau, Prof. Dr. Taufiq Hidayat. ITB’s involvement was represented by the Chemical Reaction and Catalysis Technology, Chemical Reaction and Catalysis Engineering Laboratory, ITB FTI and ITB Catalysis Engineering Center. ITB contributes to the design of the biohydrocarbon and bioavtur diesel production process as well as the design and development of the catalysts that will be used in this production process. The development process which has been carried out since 2006 is in collaboration with Pertamina.

ITB Chancellor, Prof. Reini Wirahadikusumah, Ph.D., said that through this collaboration, it further strengthens the triple helix concept between universities, industry, and the government in the field of energy independence for the nation. ITB itself is the only PTN involved in this collaboration.

“This collaboration may be one of the very few success stories or true stories of the triple helix concept. We must ‘viralize’ it to raise national optimism, so that there will be more triple helix collaborations involving various research institutions in Indonesia. Many have been prepared with great care thanks to the guidance exemplified by Prof. Dr. Subagjo,” said the Chancellor.

Meanwhile Prof. Dr. Subagjo, Professor of the Faculty of Industrial Technology as well as Head of the Chemical Reaction and Catalyst Engineering Laboratory and Center for Catalysis Engineering ITB, stated that this research is an offering of energy independence for the nation.