Kemenperin Ungkap Tandan Sawit Jadi Opsi Sumber Etanol

Palm Oil (Photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Industry revealed that there is an option for palm oil bunches to be used as raw material for ethanol. The palm oil bunch is one of 3 options for other materials, namely sugar cane mixtures, and rice husks.

Head of the Center for Green Industry (PIH) of the Ministry of Industry Apit Pria Nugraha explained that the use of these three materials is intended not to overlap with domestic food security.

"We are concerned with food security, so we choose the bioethenol sources that do not have the potential to create interests with food security," said Apit in Energy Outlook, Thursday, December 4.

Apit said, actually the authority of the Ministry of Industry in the mandatory bioethenol program is only limited to the readiness of the automotive industry to absorb mixed products as fuel. Meanwhile, the authority of ethanol policies lies under the authority of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. However, his party still pays attention so that food security does not overlap with the bioethenol program.

"So we choose the bioethenol sources that do not have the potential to grow interests with food security," he said.

Apit also said that the use of palm oil bunches into ethanol materials is still hampered by economic problems because the location of the factory is far from the source of the bunch.

"Because of its choice whether the palm bunch is transferred to the central processing or the engine, we are close to the palm oil bunch so that the added value is higher," he said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) predicts that the mandatory 10 percent bioethenol (E10) can be carried out by 2028 or sooner.

"According to our directives, we predict that in 2028 or sooner the E10 mandatory can be carried out," said Director General of New, Renewable Energy, and Energy Conservation of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Eniya Listiani Dewi, as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, November 11.

Eniya said the bioethenol mandatory program aims to reduce imports of gasoline which is quite high.

Pada pada tahun 2023, Kementerian ESDM mendorong adanya uji pasar (market trial) bioethenol oleh Pertamina.

Pertamina conducted a market trial since 2023 by mixing 5 percent ethanol into several gas stations.

Currently, there are 5 percent bioethenol-based environmentally friendly fuels that have been sold at 146 gas stations, such as in Jabodetabek, East Java, Bandung, Central Java, and Yogyakarta.