Govt plans mandatory use of biodiesel by mining industry

By Godang Sitompul

The government will include in the amendment of Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation No 32/2008 a new clause which will make the use of biodiesel by minerals and coal industry players in the country mandatory.

The move is part of efforts to help increase the consumption of biodiesel in the mining industry, said Rida Mulyana, the ministry?s Director General of Renewable Energy.

?I?ve talked with Director General of Coal and Mineral Thamrin Sihite so that the mining (industry) would use biodiesel, which was responded quite well by him. Pak Thamrin immediately requested me to explain the concept on the use of biodiesel,? Rida told reporters Monday.

He said that his office has also approached mining heavy equipment producers such as Komatsu to help facilitate the planned new policy to increase biodiesel consumption in the mining sector. He added that there are lingering reservations among the producers to increase the volume of biodiesel in the blend with the conventional petroleum-based diesel fuel.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak