Pertamina receives ISCC certification for sustainable aviation fuel from used cooking oil

PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional announced Jan. 10 that it has achieved CORSIA and EU certification from the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification System GmbH for its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from used cooking oil (UCO).

With this certification, KPI’s SAF meets sustainability requirements and can be accepted and traded according to the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (worldwide) and the European Union.

“The [hydrotreating] unit located at the Cilacap refinery has successfully achieved ISCC CORSIA and EU certification for SAF in early December,” said Hermansyah Y Nasroen, the corporate secretary for KPI.

According to Hermansyah, the achievement of this certificate shows international recognition of KPI’s ability and capability in producing SAF.

Hermansyah explained that in addition to being able to produce SAF, the Cilacap refinery has been able to produce renewable diesel since 2022.

Pertamina’s renewable diesel has also been certified by ISCC.

According to Hermansyah, KPI also continues to innovate to produce Pertamina SAF through the UCO-to-SAF project, which was launched in 2024.

“KPI was previously able to produce Pertamina SAF with refined, bleached and deodorized palm kernel oil and now KPI is ready to take steps by producing the first ISCC-certified Pertamina SAF in Indonesia [and the region] with UCO raw materials, planned for the first quarter of 2025,” Hermansyah said.

SAF produced using UCO has the advantage of lower carbon emissions of around 90 percent compared to aviation fuel made from 100 percent petroleum.

In addition, KPI said that the absorption of UCO for use as SAF feedstock can contribute to reducing UCO waste that can potentially pollute the environment.

KPI recently signed a memorandum of understanding for UCO supply to feed the Cilacap refinery.

Furthermore, Hermansyah said, in preparation for SAF production from UCO, KPI has scheduled to replace the catalyst in its hydrotreating unit this month, making it capable of processing UCO into SAF at the Cilacap refinery.

“The catalyst that will be used is the result of the development of Technology and Innovation Pertamina in collaboration with experts and engineers of PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional,” Hermansyah said. “This catalyst is produced in a domestic catalyst factory. This shows the mastery of advanced technology by Indonesian engineers.”

Fadjar Djoko Santoso, the vice president of corporate communications of PT Pertamina (Persero), added, “Pertamina Group is committed to developing environmentally friendly energy, including SAF, which is used to support the air-transportation industry in Indonesia. Through the development of green fuel, Pertamina is determined to carry out the mandate of Indonesia’s energy resilience and sovereignty, while also contributing to maintaining sustainability in the country.”

KPI is a subsidiary of Pertamina that runs its main business of oil and petrochemical processing in accordance with ESG principles.