First aviation biofuel plant planned for Indonesia

Wilmar Indonesia, the biggest palm oil producer in the country, plans to produce palm oil-derived aviation biofuel in a plant in Gresik, East Java, thanks to an investment of around $80 million (€61 million).

Working with Elevance Renewable Sciences through its subsidiary PT Wilmar Nabati Indonesia, it will be the first biofuel plant for aviation fuel in Indonesia.

The company’s biorefinery is already in operation and has been for more than a year. Using the facility, Wilmar will produce 500 tonnes of biofuels a day by the end of 2012.

Biofuel will make up 80% of the product produced, with bio-olefin making up the other 20%. The company plans to expand their Gresik plant by 25 hectares to 100 hectares by the end of the year, with a further plant development.