PLN EPI Signs MoU on Biomass Development with South Korean Company
JAKARTA - PT PLN Energi Primer Indonesia (PLN EPI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a South Korean consulting company, Greenery Inc.,. Through this MoU, both parties agreed to build a framework for cooperation in the development of biomass, technical research, improvement of fuel quality, to the exploration of international cooperation in reducing emissions, including opportunities for cross-country carbon mechanisms.
PLN EPI Bioenergy Director, Hokkop Situngkir, emphasized that biomass has a strategic role as an energy transition solution because it can be directly implemented using existing power plant infrastructure. However, its success depends heavily on the certainty of supply and strong governance.
"Bioenergy, especially biomass, is not just a substitute fuel, but part of a major energy transition strategy. Therefore, supply must be sustainable, value-added, and managed with strong governance," said Hokkop, quoted Saturday, January 3.
He added that cooperation with Greenery opens up room for accelerating technology transfer and the development of economically valuable biomass products. According to him, agricultural residues and products should not be treated as waste.
"Products such as biomass and its derivatives must be capitalized into value-added products, not only for energy, but also for food and bioenergy industries. This is in line with the government's need to strengthen national energy resilience," continued Hokkop.
From the research side, the Leader of Research Group for Industrial Sustainability and Product Optimization at BRIN, Dudi Iskandar, emphasized the importance of collaboration so that low-carbon research does not stop in the laboratory.
"As a research organization, our main task is to produce innovations that can be implemented. Without collaboration with PLN EPI, international partners, and universities, research will not have a real impact," he said.
Dudi explained that this collaboration includes the development of low-carbon technology, carbon economy studies, and a measurable emission measurement system to support government policies.
"This research is expected to help the government understand the strategy of measurable emission reduction, as well as open up opportunities for economic added value from carbon management," he said.
Company Representative of Greenery Inc., Seijin Kim, stated that the bioenergy development project in Indonesia is Greenery's first project in the country, amid a portfolio of similar projects that have been carried out in a number of other countries.
"Indonesia has a very appropriate momentum to become a model of bioenergy collaboration and energy transition. This project is not only about energy, but also health, community development, and achieving global climate targets," said Kim.
He added that the initial research is targeted to be completed by early January 2026 and will be continued with the main research next year, as technology and supporting systems are ready.
"We see that Indonesia is ready, and we are optimistic that this collaboration can become a model of Indonesian-Korean cooperation in the bioenergy sector," said Kim.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of PT Internasional Digital Sustainability Consulting, Prof. Dr. Laode M. Kamaluddin, assessed that cross-sector integration was the main strength of the model developed through this cooperation.
"This approach combines the energy sector, industry, and regional development. With the scale and potential it has, Indonesia has the opportunity to become one of the models for the development of bioenergy and the carbon economy at the global level," he said.
Through this MoU, PLN EPI and Greenery agreed to encourage the development of biomass and agricultural residues, joint technical research, strengthening sustainable supply chains, and increasing capacity and knowledge transfer. This collaboration is expected to strengthen the achievement of PLN's cofiring target while providing measurable environmental and socio-economic benefits.