Energy Transition, Bukit Asam Supports Biomass Development For Cofiring PLTU In South Sumatra

Photo: Doc. Bukit Asam

JAKARTA - PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) together with a number of ministries launched a pilot project of the Biomass entrepreneurship partnership at the Cofiring PLTU Hukum Tambang in South Sumatra. This step is an effort to accelerate the energy transition in the country. The ministry in question is the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Kemenko Marves), the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), the Indonesian Forest Entrepreneurs Association (APHI), as well as the Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI). The President Director of PTBA Arsal Ismail explained the use of this biomass as a substitute for coal (cofiring) in PLTU is one step to accelerate the energy transition to achieve the Net Zero Emission (NZE) target by 2060. "PTBA continues to transform from a coal mining company to a world-class energy and chemical company that cares about the environment. Currently, we participate in encouraging the acceleration of the energy transition through the Biomassa and Batubara Concession Partnership Program in South Sumatra," he said, in an official statement, quoted Friday 23 December. For the initial stage, continued Arsal, cofiring will be carried out at PLTU Tanjung Enim 3x10 Megawatt (MW) owned by PTBA. The testing of biomass cofiring at PLTU Tanjung Enim is carried out in stages in stages, at early stages of 1 to 5 percent. Not only suppressing emissions, said Arsal, cofiring is also beneficial from the economic side. Production forests, reclamation lands, unproductive sleeping fields, to critical or degraded lands can be used for plants that become raw material for biomasses. "In this policy model, there is the concept of utilization of production forests in forestry business schemes, reclamation of land utilization, as well as degraded land as the latest energy source in the form of wood-based biomasses used as coal PLTU. Thus, adding value to the land economy," said Arsal. Meanwhile, Deputy for the Coordination and

"We hope that the implementation of this pilot project can be a model for mining companies and other forestry companies to collaborate in meeting the renewable energy needs in the domestic and global sectors," said Nani. Nani also advised that later PLTU co-firing can involve the surrounding community in biomass production. That way, this program will get community support and its sustainability is guaranteed. "Comfiring is very important. The next homework is how this program can be sustainable, so it must involve the community. This is very good for us to encourage it to be done in the mining sector," he said.