Pertamina Advances Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiatives Ahead of 2027 Mandate

PT Pertamina (Persero) is accelerating its initiatives to promote Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in Indonesia, with plans to implement a mandatory 1% SAF usage by 2027. The company has been at the forefront of SAF development for the past five years, as highlighted during the 3rd Annual Indonesia Aero Summit (IAS) 2026 held in Jakarta.

Joko Pranoto, the Director of Planning and Business Growth at Pertamina Patra Niaga, emphasized the importance of an integrated ecosystem for SAF, which includes feedstock availability, production facilities, financing, and regulatory support. Joko stated during the summit that the company has chosen to start early, not waiting for the market or regulations to be fully prepared. He noted that Pertamina has already conducted trials with airlines such as Garuda Indonesia and Pelita Air, and has signed a sales contract with an international airline to support flights from Soekarno-Hatta and Bali airports.

“We have chosen to start early, not waiting for the market or regulations to be fully prepared.”Joko Pranoto, Director of Planning and Business Growth, Pertamina Patra Niaga

As part of its strategic preparations, Pertamina has established production facilities in Cilacap and is conducting co-processing trials in Dumai and Balongan. The company is also working on securing feedstock supply through partnerships and internal collection systems to ensure availability. Joko expressed confidence that Pertamina will be ready to meet market demands when the SAF mandate begins in 2027.

“This MoU is expected to accelerate the implementation of SAF in Indonesia.”Joko Pranoto, Director of Planning and Business Growth, Pertamina Patra Niaga

In a significant move to bolster its SAF initiatives, Pertamina signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PT Boeing Indonesia during the summit. This collaboration aims to enhance SAF education, assess feedstock potential, strengthen capacity, conduct market studies, and advocate for supportive policies for SAF implementation. Joko remarked that the MoU is expected to accelerate the implementation of SAF in Indonesia. He added that the world is beginning to recognize Pertamina's capabilities in producing SAF and that their products are already being used in Boeing aircraft. This collaboration is anticipated to further enhance the SAF ecosystem in Indonesia.

With the backing of its Green Refinery in Cilacap and cross-sector collaborations, Pertamina is optimistic about the future of SAF in Indonesia, which is seen as a crucial step towards a lower-emission aviation industry.