Journal of Scientific Engineering Advances

Abstract

Indonesia possesses unparalleled potential to become a leading global producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) derived from palm oil mill effluent (POME), a waste residue from crude palm oil processing. With 256 million tonnes of fresh fruit bunches processed annually across 1,386 mills, Indonesia's recoverable POME oil potential reaches approximately 2.5 million tonnes yearly—sufficient to generate 2-3 million kilolitres of SAF, substantially exceeding domestic aviation demand while enabling significant exports. The International Civil Aviation Organization's November 2025 approval of POME-based SAF's life cycle assessment default value of 18.1 gCO₂e/MJ—representing 79.6% greenhouse gas emission reductions compared to conventional jet fuel—creates immediate commercial viability. This qualitative literature review synthesizes evidence from academic research, industry reports, policy documents, and technical standards to comprehensively examine the prospects and challenges of Indonesia's POME-based SAF. Key prospects include abundant, scalable feedstock availability, superior environmental performance, circular-economy value creation, and supportive policy development trajectories. Critical challenges encompass technological barriers in oil recovery and pretreatment, substantial infrastructure gaps, policy and regulatory ambiguities, capital-intensive financing requirements, complex feedstock supply chain management, and environmental/social sustainability concerns, a legacy of Indonesia's palm oil sector. Success requires integrated solutions that combine dedicated gov ernment financing mechanisms, regulatory clarity on feedstock governance, coordinated infrastructure in vestment, strengthened sustainability assurance systems, enhanced international collaboration on technology transfer and capacity building, and inclusive approaches that ensure smallholder participation. Indonesia's transition to a leading POME-based SAF producer will catalyze decarbonization of regional aviation while advancing downstream industrialization, resource efficiency, and green economic development.