ITS Chancellor Prof Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng (top left) and President Director of PT Bhanda Ghara Reksa (PT BGR) M Kuncoro Wibowo (bottom left) accompanied by each official showing a cooperation agreement

ITS Campus, ITS News – The Institut Teknologi Sepuluh November (ITS) followed up on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with PT Bhanda Ghara Reksa previously. This follow-up was in the form of signing a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) related to the teaching factory to manage used cooking oil using the Integrated Biodiesel Laboratory, Monday (28/6).

The PKS is a continuation of the agreement that was implemented in October 2020. Launched online, this agreement focuses on the execution process by which an ecosystem that can produce its biofuels will be developed in the future.

President Director of PT Bhanda Ghara Reksa (BGR) M Kuncoro Wibowo started this company primarily engaged in logistics wants innovation in recycling. Sharing his point of view, waste management is one sector that needs attention. “This condition, if taken seriously, will produce promising opportunities,” he said.

President Director of PT Bhanda Ghara Reksa M Kuncoro Wibowo conveyed his remarks and hopes regarding cooperation with ITS

In addition, he continued, PT BGR has considered the very high fuel demand, especially within the company’s scope. One of them is the fuel needed by its 1,500 truck fleet. “We believe that the demand for fuel in Indonesia is very high, and alternative fuels are needed,” he explained.

Meanwhile, ITS Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng stated that this collaboration is a new milestone for developing a teaching factory. This form of cooperation will make a real contribution to the world of education, campuses, revenue, development, and collaboration with other ministries and agencies.

ITS Vice-Chancellor IV Bambang Pramujati ST MSc Eng Ph.D. explained the execution plan of the cooperation program between ITS and PT BGR

Further explained by Deputy Chancellor IV Bambang Pramujati ST MSc Eng Ph.D., this collaboration program is a mini-plan for learning and research facilities. Namely in the management and production of biofuel biodiesel and glycerin with used cooking oil as raw material. “Cooking oil is one of the most widely produced wastes, especially from the food industry,” said the lecturer of the Mechanical Engineering Department.

According to Bambang, the implementation process will be carried out in two stages in outline. In the first stage, management research will be carried out by the Indonesian National Standard (SNI). Then it will be continued with the production process, utilization, to commercialization. “ITS estimates that it will be able to produce 1,000 liters every 5 hours of production,” he said optimistically.

For the implementation design, the process has been developed in parallel, starting from the detailed layout of safe areas to be targeted locations to the preparation of maintenance lists. The main plan of the target area is the ITS Science Techno Park (STP) area in the automotive cluster.

All participants in the signing of the Cooperation Agreement (PKS) between PT Bhanda Ghara Reksa and ITS

In the future, PT BGR and ITS will continue this cooperation program to contribute to supporting reforestation efforts in Indonesia. This is in line with the government’s plan to set biodiesel as the primary alternative fuel. “We hope that this program can be inaugurated on the 61st ITS Anniversary so that it can be used immediately,” continued Ashari again hopefully. (ITS Public Relation)

Reporter: Faadhillah Syhab Azzahra