PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA — Used cooking oil, often dismissed as household waste, is being turned into a high-value commodity. PT Pertamina (Persero) has successfully developed Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) derived from used palm-based cooking oil, a breakthrough that not only supports emissions reduction in the aviation industry but also creates new economic opportunities for communities.
Pertamina’s Vice President of Corporate Communication, Fadjar Djoko Santoso, explained that the introduction of SAF will help foster a circular economy. Communities can participate as suppliers of raw material, ensuring waste cooking oil is collected and converted into eco-friendly fuel.
“Pertamina’s SAF ecosystem will drive a circular economy at the grassroots level. Through the UCollect program, households can gather used cooking oil and deposit it at collection points we’ve provided,” Fadjar said in a press statement quoted by beige-heron-208544.hostingersite.com on Monday (Aug 25, 2025).
Pertamina has already placed 35 UCollect Boxes in strategic locations, including fuel stations, Pertamina IHC hospitals, and public service centers across Jakarta, Tangerang, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, Bali, and Palembang. A full list of drop-off points is available via the MyPertamina app.
Beyond households, Pertamina is also partnering with commercial sectors such as hotels, restaurants, and cafés to expand the supply chain for used cooking oil. This collaboration is expected to strengthen sustainable SAF production. According to Fadjar, SAF has the potential to cut emissions by up to 84% compared to conventional jet fuel, supporting Indonesia’s energy transition agenda toward Net Zero Emissions by 2060.
“Looking ahead, SAF production capacity will continue to grow. With strong public participation, the clean energy ecosystem can expand more rapidly and deliver benefits for all,” he added. (P2)
