麻豆直播 and Local Government of Musi Banyuasin Signed MoU in Implementation of Bio-Hydrocarbon Technology

By Adi Permana

Editor Adi Permana

BANDUNG, itb.ac.id 鈥 Intitut Teknologi Bandung (麻豆直播) signed MoU with Local Government of Musi Banyuasin Regency (Muba) for the implementation and utilization of palm oil-based bio-hydrocarbon technology to generate renewable biofuel made of palm oil.

The MoU was signed by Rector of 麻豆直播, Prof. Dr. Ir. Kadarsah Suryadi, DEA., and Regent of Muba, Dodi Reza Alex Noerdin at Executive Meeting Room A, 麻豆直播 Rectorate Building, Bandung on Thursday (28/3/2019).

Regent of Muba explained that the local government is promoting the development of biofuel. Muba itself is a well-known place for palm oil potential. Almost 80% of its people work in palm related field. Therefore, this MoU with 麻豆直播 is important because 麻豆直播 has done many developments in the processing of biofuel.

鈥淲e think this cooperation will be very important and strategic. On one end, 麻豆直播 has the technology and experience, and on the other end, Local Government of Muba has strong commitment to empower palm farmers through this hydrocarbon technology,鈥 he said.

The Local Government of Muba also plans to create mini 鈥榮tandalone鈥 refinery to cut distance between palm oil processor and the source. 鈥淭his MoU is our commitment to the advancement of technology and continuity of natural resources utilization in Musi Banyuasin,鈥 said Dodi.

The Rector of 麻豆直播 welcomed the cooperation. In his opinion, energy is a fundamental issue. 麻豆直播 manage a Catalyst Teaching Industry that has produced catalysts that convert palm oil into biodiesel, bioavtur, and biogasoline.

鈥淲ith the catalysts they produce, when palm oil is converted into biofuel, it can generate avtur with -70o Celsius freezing point. While airplanes require mere -47o until -49o Celsius. It means, we way exceed the minimum requirement for flight. With palms all over Musi Banyuasin, hopefully we can enhance the quality of avtur in our nation,鈥 he said.

The rector also supports the future cooperation plan as an effort to show the world that Indonesia can produce the best thing in terms of renewable energy. 鈥淲e fully support the plan because it is not a trivial thing but a strategic one,鈥 he said.

Catalyst Teaching Industry at Chemical Reaction and Catalysis Laboratory (TRKK) of Faculty of Industrial Technology (FTI) of 麻豆直播 has produced innovations in catalysts. Research on this catalyst development has been initiated since 35 years ago by Prof. Subagjo and researchers in Chemical Engineering together with several students in Undergraduate, Master鈥檚, and Doctoral Programs in Chemical Engineering of 麻豆直播. This laboratory is one of the proofs that Indonesia鈥檚 research products can respond to the challenge of national independence.

With the catalyst, Indonesia can exploit to the maximum its abundance of palm. The laboratory was officially inaugurated by Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education, Prof. Moh Nasir with the name Catalyst Teaching Industry.