Rail Test B-20 On Train Gain Positive Results and No Constraints On The Machine

INDUSTRY.co.id - Palembang - The government continues to encourage the utilization of biodiesel for transportation in Indonesia. One of them is the implementation of biodiesel on rail fuel.

Entering the beginning of the second quarter of 2018, Rail Test B-20 (fuel with 20% mixture of biodiesel) re-done. Positive results obtained with no obstacles encountered on the train engine.

"During these three months there has been no problem, either from engine performance or from B-20 itself," said Expert Staff of Natural Resources Economics Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Dadan Kusdiana while reviewing Rail Test B-20 at Dipo Kertapati owned by PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), Palembang, South Sumatra, on Friday (18/05/2018).

Entering the third month of the B-20 Rail Test runs, added Dadan, there is still another three months to ascertain whether the B-20 works best on a railway engine owned by PT KAI or not.

Dadan revealed that to test Biodiesel B-20, various stages have been done, among others diesel fuel sampling, locomotive performance test tested with distance of 23,000 km or 1,620 hours for Locomotive type General Electric), and 27,000 km or 1,770 hours for Electro Motive Diesel (EMD) type machine.

Locomotives with B-20 are tested to pull a long-range coal railway (babaranjang). The circuit is the longest and heaviest circuit than any other circuit. The goal is to see the ability of B-20 fuel at its heaviest workload.

The trial period of B-20 on the train belonging to PT KAI or better known as Rail Test B-20 lasted for six months, starting from February to July 2018.

Rail Test B-20 held in Dipo Kertapati, adjusted to the maintenance of locomotives conducted every three months. Rail-B-20 activities certainly do not interfere with railway activity in Dipo Kertapati. Rail Test for Locomotive EMD type is held on 10-14 May 2018 while for GE type locomotive on 17-21 May 2018.