Minister Boosts Bioethanol Sugarcane-based by Using Brazil Technology

Jakarta – The Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif revealed that in an effort to boost bioethanol industrialization in the country, bioethanol-producing sugarcane factories in the Mojokerto area, East Java, will use technology from Brazil.

One of the factories in the area, a bioethanol plant owned by Energi Agro Nusantara (Enero), was inaugurated by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on November 4, 2022.

Minister Tasrif explained that although the government has set quality standards or specifications for fuel mixtures with five percent bioethanol (E5), as launched by Pertamina through Pertamax Green 95, the Minister admitted that until now Indonesia is still importing ethanol.

"Now, sugarcane plantations in East Java will be tried (to produce) with technology from Brazil, so that they can produce it (bioethanol)," Minister said at his office on Saturday.

The minister stated if the trial is successful, the development of bioethanol production will also be carried out in sugarcane plantations in Papua using the same technology.

"Because sugarcane seeds used to come from Papua, moved to Portugal, then to Brazil. Now, it's back to its habitat," Minister remarked. 

When asked whether there is a possibility that sugarcane production for bioethanol purposes will clash with supplies for the sugar industry, Minister Tasrif denied it.

According to him, if the area of sugarcane plantations is enlarged and productivity is boosted higher, it's believed that it will be able to meet the needs of sugarcane supply for the energy industry and sugar production as food.

"If the sugarcane plantation is enlarged, the productivity per hectare is increased, there will be no competition. So, there is food, there is energy," he continued. 

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16 November 2024