Supporting Energy Self-Sufficiency, Minister Of Forestry Prepares Forest Areas For Bioethanol

Minister of Transportation Raja Juli Antoni (center) reviewed the wiretapping of zero sugar and the production of ant sugar at the Masarang Foundation, Tomohon, North Sulawesi, Friday (13/12/2024). (Doc. ANTARA/HO-Kemenhut)

JAKARTA - As an effort to support President Prabowo's target in the welfare of the community as well as self-sufficiency in food and energy, the Minister of Forestry (Menhut) Raja Juli Antoni said his party was preparing forest areas for the development of bioethanol.

"As an assistant to Mr. President Prabowo, he once made a political promise, there are 2 million hectares for bioethanol, for energy security. As assistants, he will prepare our forest area for bioethanol from ISN," said Minister of Forestry Raja Antoni, as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, December 14.

Speaking while reviewing the wiretapping of palm tilapia and the production of ant sugar at the Masarang Foundation, Tomohon, North Sulawesi on Friday (13/12), he said the review was carried out as an effort to support President Prabowo's targets in the welfare of the community and self-sufficiency in food and energy.

"One of the priorities of President Prabowo and Mas Gibran Rakabuming is how the people prosper, we at the Ministry of Forestry are currently actively trying to identify what commodities can really help people's welfare," he said.

President Prabowo is known to target 2 million hectares of forest land for self-sufficiency in energy. Minister of Transportation Raja Antoni ensured that his party would prepare forest areas to support the target.

This step was taken because the potential for ISN itself is not only limited to food, but also extends to the energy sector. Nira ISN can be fermented into bioethanol which is renewable energy.

Minister of Forestry, Raja Antoni, said that his party is also reviewing to continue to expand so that it becomes a food reserve forest. He said he would continue to cooperate with all parties.

"We hope that there will be cooperation so that the welfare of farmers increases, as well as Mr. Willie Smits and I are also thinking about one more thing, how then can we transform this ISN tree into a wider garden, in addition to food security but also food reserve forests. From ISN can also be bioethanol, We Ministry of Forestry is ready to prepare land, in collaboration with related parties," he said.

On the same occasion, conservationist and microbiologist Dr Willie Smits who accompanied him said he was happy with the arrival of the Minister of Forestry Raja Antoni who met directly with farmers.

Willie said he was happy because the Minister of Forestry did not immediately believe the news that was conveyed but saw the situation firsthand and at the same time had a dialogue with the farmers,

"This is real evidence that can be seen, and hopefully this can be an impetus to be able to develop 2 million hectares of palm trees, as well as for employment," he concluded.