Indonesia Accelerates Bioenergy Development To Boost Energy Self-Sufficiency

JAKARTA, March 13 (Bernama) -- Indonesia is accelerating the development of bioenergy from agricultural commodities such as cassava, palm oil, sugarcane, and corn as part of efforts to achieve national energy self-sufficiency.

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan said President Prabowo Subianto had directed the move at a coordination meeting on Friday.

He said one of the government’s planned measures is to expand cassava cultivation for conversion into ethanol as an alternative fuel.

“The cassava plants will later be converted into ethanol. Then there will also be acceleration in palm oil development, part of which will be used for biofuel.”

“Other commodities such as sugarcane and corn will also be utilised as raw materials for ethanol production in the development of national bioenergy,” he said, according to ANTARA News Agency, on Friday.

Zulkifli said the government has yet to provide detailed targets for bioenergy output from agricultural commodities; however, the use of cassava, sugarcane, corn, and palm oil for alternative fuels was aimed at strengthening energy diversification and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Data from Indonesia’s Agriculture Ministry showed national palm oil production reached about 47 million tonnes in 2023 and is projected to rise to 48.12 million tonnes by 2025, with average productivity at around 3.3 tonnes per hectare.

The Agriculture Ministry also projects corn production to reach around 18 million tonnes of dry shelled corn in 2026, supported by an estimated 4.18 per cent increase in yields in the first quarter of the year.

Separately, Indonesia’s Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry plans to introduce a 20 per cent ethanol blend in gasoline, known as E20, by 2028 as part of efforts to reduce fuel imports.

In addition to bioenergy development, the government is accelerating national electricity infrastructure projects, including plans to build solar power plants with a combined capacity of up to 100 gigawatts.

-- BERNAMA