According to the company’s website press release on February 16, 2023, PT PGN Tbk, as Pertamina's Gas Subholding, participated in the 2023 Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) at JIEexpo, Kemayoran, Jakarta. PGN displays natural gas utilization products for the transportation sector, gas fuel (BBG) with the product name Gasku, and natural gas services for vehicles. For vehicles, currently, the natural gas used is Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). For longer-distance vehicles, however, it may be possible to develop with liquefied natural gas (LNG).
This international event also welcomes PGN's plan to launch a CNG conversion pilot project for 300 motorcycle units in DKI Jakarta and Semarang. The CNG conversion project will be carried out by PGN in the 1st quarter of 2023.
"Gasku offers more value for users, in which it can be more efficient than other fossil energy sources and is environmentally friendly. The mileage is also competitive with other vehicles. Therefore, Gasku can be an energy choice in the transitional period towards using new, renewable energy," said the Director of Finance of PGN, Fadjar Widodo, during his visit to the PGN booth at IIMS 2023 (16/02/2023).
Fadjar continued, Gasku users will experience cost efficiency. PGN provides CNG at IDR 4,500 per Liter Equivalent Premium (LSP). Therefore, this price is quite affordable.
Vehicles converted using Gasku Fuel Gas (BBG) can still use fuel oil because the fuel operation becomes dual fuel (a combination of fuel and gas). For its utilization, each vehicle will be installed with a converter kit to utilize the CNG stored in the canister.
“Users can be flexible in choosing fuel. By using BBG, users can save more. Moreover, Gasku will increase the amount of vehicle fuel so that the distance traveled can be further," explained Fadjar.
Gasku's main composition is methane, making Gasku environmentally friendly because methane is a high-octane clean fuel. Thus, Gasku provides good engine performance and environmentally friendly exhaust gas benefits. Gasku is also low in emissions, making the engine cleaner and smoke-free.
By maintaining the CNG's quality and benefits that are economical and environmentally friendly, PGN is ready to increase CNG for public vehicles, motorcycles, and trucks/buses. Previously, CNG was mostly used by auto rickshaws, taxis, passenger vehicles, and Trans Semarang.
"Our design, Gasku for motorbikes, will be packaged in a CNG tube with a diameter of 14 cm and a height of about 50 cm. This size is compact enough to allow safe placement on the left and right of the steering column without compromising driving comfort," explained Fadjar
There are two CNG tubes made of steel, with high safety standards having a total capacity of 2.5 LSP, which can support a cruising range of up to 100 km on a single full charge.
Fadjar explained that Gasku utilization on motorbikes could increase welfare due to the potential to save fuel prices by up to 55%, equivalent to IDR 5 million per year (consumption of 2.5 liters of fuel pertalite/day). Moreover, it is also to help reduce the fuel subsidies burden and dependence on imported fuel equivalent to 91 thousand kilo liters per year (for 100,000 motorcycles).
As for trucks, we have gone through the Diesel Dual Fuel (DDF) trial for three Pertamina fuel tanker cars.
CNG filling can currently be done at 19 locations in Jakarta, Bekasi, and Bogor. Some of them are the PGN Headquarters SPBG, Klender SPBG, Pemuda SPBG, Gandaria SPBG, Daan Mogot SPBG, Pondok Ungu SPBG, Karawang SPBG, and Citeureup SPBG.
"PGN wishes to be present in this transitional period and play a role in creating an ecosystem for using CNG for vehicles in Indonesia. We hope that starting in 2023 and in the following years, CNG vehicles will continue to increase. That way, PGN is increasingly motivated to provide environmentally friendly energy at affordable prices for vehicles and improve people's welfare," conveyed Fadjar.
