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Virgin Australia Becomes the First Airline Using Pertamina Bioavtur

Virgin Australia Becomes the First Airline to Use Pertamina Bioavtur
Virgin Australia Becomes the First Airline to Use Pertamina Bioavtur. Image Source: IndoAviation Plus

The latest partnership with the Australian international airline marks the commitment made by Indonesia-based PT Pertamina Patra Niaga to expand the distribution of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), also known as Bioavtur, to the global market.

The Director of Central Marketing and Commerce at PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, Maya Kusmaya, explained that Virgin Australia Airlines is the first international airline to use SAF, or Bioavtur, supplied by the Ngurah Rai Aviation Fuel Terminal (AFT). This milestone was celebrated during the ‘First International Uplift’ ceremony.

“The distribution of SAF at Ngurah Rai Airport marks Indonesia’s ability to adapt to the demands of the energy mix in the international aviation industry. SAF is currently a medium-term solution for reducing aviation’s carbon footprint, without requiring changes to aircraft, airport infrastructure, or the jet fuel supply chain,” Kusmaya said in her press statement on Wednesday, 18th of September.

According to Kusmaya, the SAF distributed adheres to the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) framework for the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and complies with the Renewable Energy Directive-European Union (RED-EU). Additionally, it meets international standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and is classified as Corsia Eligible Fuel (CEF), making it eligible for claims with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

“This new step towards sustainable aviation helps reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuels, as Pertamina’s SAF is a blend of 38.43% synthetic kerosene, produced from used cooking oil (UCO), and 61.57% conventional jet fuel,” Kusmaya added.

Meanwhile, Virgin Australia’s Sustainability General Manager, Fiona Walmsley, remarked that this collaboration is the first step between Indonesia and Australia in their joint effort to achieve Net Zero Emissions targets. Virgin Australia Airlines currently operates flights from Denpasar to Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and the Gold Coast. The collaboration also symbolises the airline’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions intensity by 22% by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

“For Australia, one of the most significant challenges is the availability of affordable SAF in our country. Through this collaboration, Pertamina has helped bridge that gap, but ultimately, we need support from across the Australian and international aviation industries to ensure a sustainable, reliable, and affordable SAF supply for Virgin Australia,” Walmsley asserted.

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