This edition of "In Focus" investigates the results of the MOVES workshop in Indonesia. The workshop examined the urgency of improving fuel quality as a strategic step towards reducing vehicle emissions and improving air quality in major Indonesian cities.
The event was held in Jakarta on 18-Nov 2025 and followed the release of the final report on the “Impact of Oxygenated Gasoline on Indonesian Vehicle Emissions” in July 2025, conducted by the Eastern Research Group (ERG) and the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) under the sponsorship of the Asian Clean Fuels Association (ACFA).
The study employed the U.S. EPA’s Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES), adapted specifically for Indonesia, to model vehicle emissions from different gasoline blends. MOVES was updated to allow modelling of ether-based oxygenate fuel blends, reflect local emissions data and standards, and incorporate local vehicle fleet activity data.
The MOVES workshop was organized by ACFA and attended by a wide representation of industry leaders, government bodies and associated parties.
Keynote speakers Dr. Ir. Patuan Alfon Simanjuntak, M.M, Secretary of the Downstream Regulatory Agency of BHP Migas and Noor Arifin Muhammad, S.T., M.SIE, represented by Mr. Kusnandar, Coordinator for Oil and Gas Environmental Engineering of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources opened the workshop by emphasizing the urgency of improving fuel quality as a strategic step to reduce vehicle emissions and enhance air quality in major Indonesian cities.
According to the ERG/ITB study, air quality in Indonesia’s cities is among the worst in the world. In 2024 four cities had annual PM2.5 concentrations rated “unhealthy” and “unhealthy for sensitive groups”. On days with extreme pollution, Jakarta has been identified as having the worst air quality of any city worldwide. In summer months PM2.5 levels in Jakarta can spike to 80 µg/m³ or higher, far exceeding the World Health Organization’s guideline of 5 µg/m³ annually. Persistent air quality problems have dire consequences for Indonesia’s citizens. A 2023 study attributed over10,000 premature deaths, 5,000 hospitalizations, and 7,000 adverse health outcomes in children to PM2.5 and ozone in Jakarta, equating to a cost burden of $2.94 billion annually, about 2% of Jakarta’s GDP.
The speakers highlighted that strengthening fuel standards, lowering sulphur content, and ensuring compliance throughout the distribution chain were identified as essential pillars to achieve measurable and consistent emission reductions. They also underlined the importance of regulatory harmonization across the oil and gas sector and the readiness of downstream infrastructure to support the transition toward cleaner fuels. A data-driven policy approach, including emission modelling using MOVES, is viewed as critical for formulating effective regulations aimed at protectingpublic health.
Subsequently, Prof. Ir. Puji Lestari, PhD (ITB),presented the results, observations and conclusions of the study “Analysis ofthe effects of oxygenated gasoline blends on vehicle emissions in Indonesia”.
In her presentation, Prof. Lestari pointed out thatair pollution levels in major cities such as Jakarta and Surabaya remain in the“unhealthy” category, with PM2.5 concentrations exceeding 80 µg/m³. Motorvehicles contribute 96 % of NMVOC emissions, 75 % of black carbon, and 46 % ofPM2.5. Health impacts are severe, causing more than 10,000 premature deathsannually and thousands of hospitalizations.
She described the key challenges in transportationemissions for Indonesia, highlighting
as the main reasons for worsening emissions. Prof. Lestari introduced the ERG/ITB MOVES-Indonesia study and its objectives.
The study estimated emissions over ten different fuels with a range of octane levels (90 to 95 RON), oxygen content (0 to 3.2wt%), and oxygenate type (MTBE, ETBE, Ethanol). The model estimated annualemissions of ozone precursors (VOC, NOx), PM2.5, carbon monoxide (CO), and air toxics from gasoline motor vehicles in Jakarta and Surabaya.
She presented the key findings of the study,highlighting that ether blends (MTBE/ETBE) delivered the most significantreductions in CO, PM2.5, VOC, and NOx, while ethanol increased NOx and VOC dueto higher RVP.
The third keynote speaker was Vinoj Thanumoorthy, Vice President of ACFA, who spoke about air quality challenges and how to enhancefuel quality with ethers.
Building on the above-mentioned findings of the MOVES Indonesia study, the speaker showed fuel ethers as high-octane, clean gasoline components compatible with all vehicles and existing infrastructure. MTBE and ETBE enhance engine efficiency, reduce CO, VOC, PM, and NOx, and boost fuel performance without additional investments in storage or distributionfacilities.
It does not surprise that globally 85 countries useethers, twice the number of countries using ethanol. Global ether supply is readilyavailable and for refineries ethers offer flexibility, lower costs and avoidcompatibility issues, associated with ethanol.
The paper showed the five fuel-quality pillars ofethers as:
which help reduce RVP and aromatic/olefin contentand maintain optimal oxygen levels (2.7–3.7 wt %). These pillars are key toreducing toxic and PM emissions worldwide.
The speaker referred to Mexico City, once the mostpolluted city globally (1992), as a highly relevant case for Indonesia, whereemission reduction improved dramatically after reformulating gasoline with MTBE(12 vol %), limiting aromatics/olefins, and lowering RVP. CO fell 86 %, O₃ fell46 %, and PM dropped 40 % despite a fourfold increase in vehicle numbers.
The presentation concluded by pointing at challengesof ethanol in Pertamax Green 92, due to insufficient national ethanol supply,new blending infrastructure requirements, risk of increased evaporativeemissions caused by higher RVP, and potential PM & VOC increases.
ACFA’s recommendations are:
The keynote speeches were followed by a panel discussion, reviewing the “Impact of Oxygenated Gasoline on Indonesian Vehicle Emissions” ITB/ERGMOVES study. Among others, the following topics were addressed, highlightingIndonesia’s main challenges to combat air pollution and its restrictions to implementethanol gasoline:
Indonesia’s sugarcane output is estimated at onlyone seventh of that of Thailand, which severely limits the nation’s ability toproduce bioethanol from sugarcane and molasses. Its biofuel demand in fact farexceeds its biofuel supply capability. Without significant increases in domesticsupply or in undesired imports, large-scale biofuel mandates will take years toimplement. While land potential exists, conversion into productive sugarcane orenergy crop cultivation remains very low.
A major regulatory shift introduces a maximum sulphur limit of 50 ppm for gasoline and diesel, mandated under MoEF Regulation 20/2017and MoEF Regulation 8/2023. The gasoline specification change is intended for 01-Jan 2028, whereas the diesel change is set for 01-Jan 2027. This requires refiners to accelerate diesel hydrotreatment (DHT) and gasoline sulphur hydrotreating (GSH) projects.
However, the full EURO 4 specification implementation,which was scheduled for 01-Jan 2028, has been further delayed till 2032 due to requiredrefinery infrastructure investments and adjustments as well as the need forregulatory harmonization.
While reducing the sulphur content to 50 ppm is astep in the right direction, it must be borne in mind that this alone is notsufficient to achieve the urgently needed targets for reducing theconcentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter(PMs). To achieve better air quality, restrictions on aromatics and olefincontent must be introduced.
During the discussion it was again highlighted thattransport is the largest source of air pollution, accounting for 30% ofIndonesia’s GHG emissions in 2020, and 42 % of national energy is used fortransport. Transport is a primary source of SO₂, NOx, and PM pollutionaffecting public health. Low-sulphur fuels are the most strategic interventionfor reducing these emissions.
The above-mentioned DHT and GSH projects in Cilacap, Plaju, Balongan yield total net benefits of IDR 243.6 trillion, derived from government, households, environmental and health savings, industries, and corporate gross margin.
With a density of 17,013 people/km² across 44 districts and 267 subdistricts, Jakarta is among the world’s densest cities. It faces climate risks including air pollution, heat islands, and sea-level rise, making mobility transformation urgent. Jakarta’s economy grew 5.18 % (year-on-year in Q2 2025, surpassing national growth (5.12 %). Unemployment dropped to 6.18 % and poverty to 4.28 % (464,870people). Yet Jakarta’s Global Cities Index ranking fell from #54 to #74(2015–2024), rising slightly by 3 places in 2024–2025. Mobility reform, particularly so in public transportation, is considered as essential to restore competitiveness.
A paper presented by Ahmad Puput Safrudin, Executive Director at the Lead-Free Petrol Elimination Committee (KPBB) showed that in Indonesia, vehicles produce over 34.5mMT of pollutants annually, mainly contributed by motorcycles with 63%, gasoline cars with 21 % and trucks accounting for 11%. In the Greater Jakarta area (Jabodetabek) alone, daily emissions exceed 23.8m MT.
If business-as-usual continues, PM10, PM2.5, HC, CO, NOx, and SOx emissions will increase more than tenfold by 2030. With Euro 4 standards and fuels at max 50ppm sulphur, PM2.5 & PM10 emissions drop by 95.65 %. SOx drops 98.15 %, NOx drops 81.73 %, CO drops 87.68 % and HC drops 78.71 %.
Fuel upgrading is the single most effective intervention, according to the KPBB statement.
At the end of the workshop all panellists agreed that
ACFA would like to express its satisfaction with the workshop outcome. We would like to thank the parties involved for identifying the main sources of urban air emission and suggesting the most meaningful, quickly convertible, and low-cost solutions to improve the current situation.
However, we must express our disappointment that the fuel specification upgrade to Euro 4standards has again been delayed, despite being discussed now for well over 15 years. Implementing higher fuel standards nationwide, supported by thorough monitoring, is elementary to achieving air pollution objectives and significantly reducing premature death cases in Indonesia.
Apart from the 50ppm sulphur cap, the nationwide adaptation of Euro 4 quality standards will also achieve a reduction in aromatics and olefins content, two of the most relevant parameters to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and lower particulate matter (PMs).
Following Mexico's example, Indonesia should consider not to use ethanol in Greater Jakarta and other metropolitan areas. Using ethers instead would lower the vapor pressure of gasoline, minimize particulate emissions, and ensure optimal air quality.
In this context, ACFA is delighted that the workshop identified ethers as the superior solution to Indonesia’s air emission problems compared to the direct-blending of Ethanol. This is a position supported by many scientists globally and has been successfully implemented in neighbouring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore.
In this issue of our “In Conversation with” we talked to Mr. Jeff Hove, acting Vice President and Executive Director at the Fuels Institute. In recent years we have seen some initiatives to consider policies to ban the sale of vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines (ICE), predominantly emerging in Europe, but also spreading out in parts of Asia.
In this issue of our “In Conversation with” we talked to Dr Tilak Doshi, an energy sector consultant based in Singapore. Dr Doshi shared his views and observations about the global “2050 decarbonisation” plan and move towards Electric Vehicles (EVs) with us. We would like to thank Dr Doshi for his efforts to comprehensively answer our questions which provide some highly valuable and very interesting insights into this matter, highlighting a range of topics often overlooked in the political discussion between the various stakeholders in the race to save the world from impending climate catastrophe.
In this issue of our “In Conversation with” we talked to Dr Sanjay C Kuttan, Chairman of the Sustainable Infrastructure Committee at Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS).
.svg)
.svg)
