Pertamina, Boeing explore opportunities to develop Indonesia’s SAF ecosystem
- Pertamina
- 29 minutes ago
- 2 min read
PT Pertamina (Persero) announced July 8 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Boeing to explore the development of a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) ecosystem in Indonesia.
This initiative supports efforts to decarbonize the aviation sector and accelerate the energy transition toward net-zero emissions.
Aligned with the “Asta Cita” vision of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, the country continues to promote SAF development as a solution to reduce carbon emissions in the aviation sector while fostering a more sustainable aviation industry.
According to the ASEAN 2050 SAF outlook report, Indonesia ranks among the top-three ASEAN nations with the largest projected SAF production surplus potential, estimated to reach 2.2 million barrels (92.4 million gallons) per day by 2050.
Through this partnership, Pertamina and Boeing will collaborate to explore various aspects of SAF ecosystem development in Indonesia, including identifying potential feedstocks, developing technology and supporting the creation of policies necessary to accelerate implementation.
“For Pertamina, this collaboration goes beyond mere fuel development—it represents a long-term investment in building a national SAF industrial ecosystem,” said PT Pertamina (Persero) President Director Simon Aloysius Mantiri. “Leveraging abundant domestic resources, Pertamina’s processing capabilities and Boeing’s global aviation expertise, we are optimistic that this partnership will accelerate the development of a competitive SAF industry, create added value for the national economy and support the decarbonization of the aviation sector.”
Boeing projects that air-passenger traffic in Southeast Asia will grow at an average annual rate of 7 percent, with a demand for 4,885 new aircraft through 2044.
Amidst this growth, the utilization of SAF stands out as a crucial solution for curbing carbon emissions in the aviation sector.
In its neat form, this fuel has the potential to reduce aviation’s carbon footprint by up to 80 percent compared to conventional jet fuel.
“Indonesia is strategically positioned to lead the development of sustainable aviation in Southeast Asia,” said Indra Duivenvoorde, the managing director of Boeing Indonesia. “We welcome the collaboration with Pertamina on various SAF development initiatives—ranging from identifying potential feedstocks to supporting education and training programs—aimed at accelerating the development of the SAF ecosystem in Indonesia. This collaboration is expected to support a more sustainable future for Indonesia’s aviation industry while contributing to national economic growth.”
As part of developing the national SAF ecosystem, Pertamina has launched several initiatives, including the production and certification of Pertamina SAF, the implementation of its use in partnership with Pelita Air, and the development of the Cilacap biorefinery project by PT Pertamina Patra Niaga.
This project aims to produce SAF and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) from used cooking oil (UCO) and other sustainable, waste-based feedstocks.
As a leader in the energy transition, Pertamina said it is committed to supporting the 2060 net-zero emission target and continues to drive programs that directly impact the achievement of the United Nations’ sustainable-development goals (SDGs).
These efforts align with Pertamina’s transformation—which focuses on governance, public service and business and environmental sustainability—by integrating environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) principles across all business lines and operations.
