Virgin Australia Airlines: First International service to use Pertamina's Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Bali, September 18, 2024 - PT Pertamina Patra Niaga continues to expand the distribution of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) with a new carrier Virgin Australia Airlines utilizing its SAF as part of celebrations at the Bali International Air Show on Thursday 18 September.  

Approximately 160 kilolitres of SAF was supplied to Virgin Australia's Boeing 737 for two days of services out of Bali International Airport I Gusti Ngurah Rai, from September 18 to 19, 2024.

“The first SAF delivery at Ngurah Rai Airport signifies that Indonesia can adapt to the energy mix demands in the international aviation industry, where SAF is currently a medium-term solution for flights to reduce carbon footprint without requiring changes to aircraft, airport infrastructure, or jet fuel supply chains,” said Riva Siahaan, President Director of Pertamina Patra Niaga.

Riva added that the SAF supplied complies with the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) framework for the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and the Renewable Energy Directive-European Union (RED-EU).

Additionally, SAF meets international standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and is certified safe as a CORSIA Eligible Fuel (CEF) that can be claimed to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

“This new step towards sustainable aviation is able to reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuels, as Pertamina’s SAF is a 38.43% blend of synthetic kerosene produced from Used Cooking Oil (UCO) and 61.57% conventional jet fuel,”

Fiona Walmsley, General Manager of Sustainability at Virgin Australia, said this collaboration today was symbolic of Virgin Australia’s commitment to reduce its carbon emissions intensity by 22 per cent by 2030, and a commitment to target net zero emissions by 2050.  

“SAF is a critical enabler to helping reduce the carbon emissions of the aviation sector. We are pleased to be able to showcase the safety, effectiveness and efficiency of using SAF as part of our short-haul international operations,” Ms Walmsley said.

“For Australia, one of the most difficult hurdles to overcome is the availability of affordable SAF within our country.

“By working together on this initiative, Pertamina has helped to bridge the gap for us but ultimately we need the support from many areas within the Australian and international aviation industry to ensure an ongoing, reliable and affordable SAF operation at Virgin Australia.”

Virgin Australia services routes from Denpasar to Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and Gold Coast.

SAF distributed at the Aviation Fuel Terminal Ngurah Rai is managed using a mass balance chain of custody method. In this method, conventional fossil fuel jet fuel and renewable fuel (SAF) are blended in the same tank because they have similar technical specifications. Despite being blended, jet fuel and SAF are recorded and accounted for separately.

The supply of SAF to the global market is a tangible commitment from PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, which aggressively promotes energy transition in the aviation sector and supports Indonesia's Net Zero Emission target by 2060. SAF, produced from waste and processed at refineries alongside fossil fuels, results in low-carbon synthetic fuel, reducing carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel, and is certified ISCC CORSIA and ISCC RED-EU.