B50 Mining Equipment Trial Passes 900 Hours, Fuel Use About 3.12% Higher Than B40

Jakarta — Trials of B50 biodiesel in mining heavy equipment had passed 900 operating hours by the end of March 2026 with no engine problems attributed to fuel quality, according to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM). The main caveat concerns fuel use: in a head-to-head comparison of two Komatsu HD785 units, the one running on B50 burned about 3.12% more fuel than the one on B40.

The interim results were presented by Eniya Listiani Dewi, Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE), in Jakarta on Friday, 3 April 2026, and published by the ministry on 7 April 2026. Eniya said the engines had so far shown stable performance without significant disruption, describing the findings as a positive sign that biodiesel can be relied on to support industrial operations.

What was tested at the mines

B50 is a blend of 50% pure biodiesel (B100), made from vegetable oils such as palm oil, and 50% fossil diesel (B0). According to the ESDM release, the mining-sector trial covers four areas:

• fuel quality;
• engine performance;
• operational durability (dynamic endurance testing);
• fuel stability during storage.

By the end of March 2026, dynamic endurance testing had exceeded 900 operating hours. The ministry said the B50 fuel used met the agreed technical parameters, notably water content, oxidation stability and FAME (fatty acid methyl ester) content. The mining trial is part of a wider B50 testing programme that also covers transport, power generation, railways and agricultural machinery, and its results are to inform B50 policy and technical standards.

Two Komatsu HD785 units compared

The most detailed field data came from mining contractor PT Harmoni Panca Utama (HPU). HPU's General Manager Plant, Rochman Alamsjah, said the company compared two Komatsu HD785 heavy-equipment units, one fuelled with B40 and the other with B50. As quoted by IDX Channel and Fortune Indonesia, Rochman said both units had run close to 1,000 hours on the hour meter and engine performance had not been an issue.

The point to watch is fuel consumption. HPU reported that the B50 unit's consumption fluctuated about 1–3% above the B40 unit, while the overall figure cited in the ESDM release was around 3.12%. The ministry considers the gap to be within a reasonable range that does not significantly affect equipment productivity. The available reports do not explain why the 1–3% and 3.12% figures differ; one may describe day-to-day fluctuation and the other a cumulative average, but the sources do not confirm this.

Parameter	Interim result (to end-March 2026)
Dynamic endurance test	More than 900 operating hours
HPU field comparison	2 Komatsu HD785 units (B40 vs B50), close to 1,000 hours
Engine performance	Stable, no significant disruption
B50 vs B40 fuel use	1–3% higher (HPU); about 3.12% (ESDM release)
Fuel quality	Water content, oxidation stability and FAME within agreed specifications

Why mining matters for B50

Unlike road vehicles, which are tested by distance travelled, mining heavy equipment is measured in operating hours. A consumption increase of a few percent, if it applies across a large fleet, means additional fuel volume that operators must budget for. Field consumption data such as this is therefore an important reference for mining operators ahead of B50.

B50 follows the B40 mandate, which has applied nationwide since early 2025. The government cites benefits including lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced diesel imports and greater domestic absorption of palm oil. ESDM said testing in other sectors was continuing before final technical decisions are made.