Business · Energy & Commodities · 2 hrs ago
Pertamina turns used cooking oil into aviation fuel at Cilacap refinery
Indonesia’s Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka visited Pertamina’s Cilacap refinery on October 26 to see how used cooking oil is turned into sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF.
SAF is a lower-emissions alternative for aircraft, and Pertamina uses its existing refinery facilities to make it.
In October, the refinery produced about 11 million litres of co-processed SAF, with used cooking oil making up no more than 5% of the unit’s total production capacity.
Pertamina is also collecting used oil through local waste banks and collection boxes, and people can receive money or e-wallet credit for what they deposit.
The programme aims to give household waste economic value while supplying fuel to the aviation industry.
Pertamina says its SAF refinery and trading operations have received sustainability certification, and its product has been marketed to some Indonesian airlines.
Indonesia’s Pertamina Patra Niaga says its Cilacap refinery produced about 11 million litres of co-processed sustainable aviation fuel in October.
The fuel is made using used cooking oil alongside other feedstocks, with used oil making up a maximum of about 5% of the Thermal Distillate Hydro Treating unit’s total capacity.
Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka visited the refinery on October 26 to observe the process.
Gibran said SAF development should also create economic benefits for local communities involved in collecting used cooking oil.
Pertamina Patra Niaga works with three waste banks near the refinery and offers collection points where residents can exchange used oil for money or e-wallet credit.
- Who
- Pertamina Patra Niaga is producing the fuel. Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka visited the refinery.
- What
- The Cilacap refinery is turning used cooking oil into sustainable aviation fuel through co-processing.
- When
- About 11 million litres were produced in October 2026. Gibran visited on October 26, 2026.
- Where
- The Green Refinery at Pertamina Patra Niaga’s Cilacap refinery, Indonesia.
- Why
- To produce sustainable aviation fuel and make used-oil collection beneficial to local communities.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Pertamina Patra Niaga produced about 11 million litres of co-processed SAF at the Cilacap Green Refinery.
Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka visited the Cilacap refinery and observed the used-cooking-oil processing.
- October production
- About 11 million litres of co-processed SAF
- Used-oil share
- Maximum of about 5% of the TDHT unit’s total capacity
- Refinery
- Green Refinery, Cilacap
- Waste banks
- Three: Beo Asri, Abhipraya and Cahaya Asri
- Annual collections
- Abhipraya: 984 litres; Beo Asri: 2,283 litres; Cahaya Asri: 717 litres
2 sources
What people are saying
SAF development must go hand in hand with community empowerment, so that used cooking oil managed by women through waste banks can have economic value and be connected to national industry.
In the implementation of SAF production at the Cilacap Green Refinery, we have reached the stage of commercial production, with around 11 million litres of co-processed SAF produced this October.