PT Pindad is developing cellulose from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) as raw material for the production of ammunition propellants and armor composites, which have the potential to reduce reliance on imported materials.^[1] OPEFB, long regarded merely as a waste of the palm oil industry, is now being elevated to a higher-value application.

From Waste to Strategic Raw Material

This development goes beyond simply finding a new use for OPEFB. It serves a more strategic agenda: securing a local source of raw materials to decrease the defense industry’s dependence on imports.

Prima Kharisma I.Y., Director of Technology and Development at PT Pindad, stated that research into OPEFB-derived cellulose has been underway since 2022. One of the primary objectives of this research is to identify an alternative to “cotton linters” — a material traditionally used as a source of cellulose.^[1]

“Dependence on foreign raw materials is a significant challenge in developing the defense industry. For this reason, since 2022, PT Pindad has been conducting laboratory-scale research to find alternative, domestically available sources of cellulose,” he explained during the annual “Perisai 2026” event in Jakarta last July.

According to Prima, relying on technologies that depend entirely on imported materials means that the defense industry remains dependent on foreign supply chains.

“If we stick to existing technologies, we remain dependent on external sources — cotton linters being one example. Furthermore, obtaining cotton linters in Indonesia is quite difficult,” he added.

Previously, Pindad explored the use of ramie fibers and luffa (sponge gourd) as potential sources of cellulose. However, OPEFB offers a distinct advantage in terms of availability, as it is produced in abundant quantities as a waste of the palm oil industry.

From Laboratory to Pilot Plant

The research on OPEFB is being conducted in stages, progressing from laboratory-scale testing to a pilot plant, with the ultimate goal of full-scale production. Currently, Pindad is receiving funding from the Plantation Fund Management Board (BPDP) to increase its production capacity to a medium scale of 50 tons per year.^[2]

“The research started from scratch. We conducted it at a laboratory scale, then scaled it up to a pilot phase. Currently, for the pilot phase, we have secured funding from the BPDP to advance to a medium scale — specifically, 50 tons per year,” explained Prima.

Once a capacity of 50 tons per year is reached, Pindad aims to further increase it to 1,000 tons per year. These stages are necessary to optimize process parameters before the technology is scaled up even further.

OPEFB for Propellant and Armor Self-Sufficiency

One of the most strategic applications for cellulose derived from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) is as a raw material for propellants. Prima estimates that the national demand for propellants — to meet ammunition requirements — reaches approximately 2,500–3,000 tons per year, with Pindad’s own current requirement ranging between 800 and 1,000 tons annually.^[1]

Interestingly, the amount of OPEFB required to produce propellants is relatively small compared to the total volume available from the national palm oil industry. To produce approximately 1,000 tons of propellant per year, Pindad estimates it would need about 2,500–3,000 tons of OPEFB.

“The advantage is that it is quite abundant in Indonesia — there is an extraordinary amount of it. Our requirement for 1,000 tons of propellant per year is estimated at 2,500 to 3,000 tons of OPEFB. That is far less than the total volume of OPEFB generated by palm oil mills,” he said.

As the world’s largest producer and exporter of palm oil, Indonesia produces averagely more than 250 million tons of palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) per year, which are processed into palm oil at the average extraction rate of between 20–23 percent, and the rest becomes wastes, including the OPEFB.^[3]

Given this abundant supply, OPEFB has the potential to evolve from a mere waste into a strategic raw material for the defense industry. Prima notes that the utilization of local materials is becoming increasingly critical, as resources such as cotton, cotton linters, and wood pulp are relatively difficult to source domestically.

The OPEFB development pursued by Pindad does not stop at propellants. The cellulose from the OPEFB is also developed into cellulose fibers and cellulose nanocrystals for use in composite materials.

This material is intended for use as add-on armor for combat vehicles, such as the Anoa, various armored personnel carriers (APCs), and medium tanks. Rather than replacing steel as the primary armor material, this composite serves as an additional layer designed to enhance protection while keeping the overall weight lower.

“This composite armor can be applied to the Anoa, other armored vehicles, and medium tanks, but it functions as an add-on rather than the primary material. Steel remains the core armor material,” explained Prima.

Consequently, a single source of oil palm biomass has the potential to feed into two distinct technological value chains: as a raw material for propellants and as a component in composite materials for the protection of combat vehicles.

The Challenge: Standardizing OPEFB Quality

However, utilizing the OPEFB for strategic industrial needs poses specific challenges, most notably the standardization of raw materials. OPEFB sourced from different palm oil mills may exhibit varying characteristics, depending on how they are handled after the milling process.

“Some are pressed immediately, some are dried, and others undergo no treatment at all. This means that the delivery process to us requires different handling methods. Therefore, standardization is essential,” Prima clarified.

In response, Pindad has begun engaging with several palm oil mills to establish a more standardized raw material supply system. Consistency in the raw material is crucial to ensuring that the resulting cellulose possesses the precise, uniform characteristics required for industrial-scale production.

Operation Target in 2027

From a technological standpoint, the development of OPEFB-based biomaterials is now transitioning toward industrialization. At the pilot scale, the material has been tested and confirmed to meet the standards required for defense products.

According to Prima, the test results satisfy all necessary requirements, including defense standards — such as those defined by military specifications and NATO standards. The product has also successfully undergone certification and is now being utilized in small-scale production for certain types of ammunition.

“We have tested it, it has passed certification, and we are currently producing it on a small scale for several of our ammunition products. So, we are truly repurposing waste into ammunition products,” he said.

Meanwhile, the construction of a medium-scale facility with a capacity of 50 tons per year is currently underway. Pindad targets this facility to begin operations between mid- and late 2027.

In the long term, Pindad is open to the possibility of establishing multiple production facilities across various regions in Indonesia. The concept involves situating processing facilities closer to palm oil industrial hubs to reduce costs and logistical complexity.

“Our vision extends beyond just a single plant. In the long term, we plan to build facilities in several locations across Indonesia — perhaps three or four sites on different islands. The idea is to position ourselves closer to various palm oil mills,” said Prima.

This development introduces a new perspective on OPEFB. While this palm oil industry’s waste has traditionally been used for fertilizer, energy, or biomass-based goods, it is now being integrated into high-tech supply chains.

For the palm oil industry, this opportunity enhances the economic value of OPEFB. For the defense industry, the utilization of local biomass provides an alternative source of raw materials, while also helping to reduce reliance on imported materials.

Prima emphasized the importance of maintaining a collaborative ecosystem — involving the government, the Plantation Fund Management Board (BPDP), universities, researchers, and the palm oil industries — to ensure that such innovations can progress toward commercialization and industrial-scale production.

“This is an outstanding example of effective communication and cooperation among academia, industries, and the government — a model that is now being successfully implemented within the industry,” he stated.

Thus, the journey of OPEFB no longer ends merely as a waste of palm oil mills. From oil palm plantations and mills, these materials are channeled toward laboratories, production facilities, and even the technological supply chains of national defense.