JAKARTA – Besides solar power, other renewable energy sources that are now being pushed under the energy transition program include biofuel from palm oil. Indonesia has become one of the world’s most active producers of biofuel through its mandatory program of biodiesel 30 percent or B30 production.
Yudo Dwinanda Priaadi, a ministerial expert staff in charge of strategic planning at the ministry of energy and mineral resources (MEMR) and chairman of the G20 energy transition working group (ETWG), said that biofuel for green economy will become an integral part of national strategy to implement the energy transition, which is fair, equal and people-centered. According to him, in terms of green jobs the biofuel industry is the second largest sub-sector in employing workers in the renewable energy sector after the solar power.
“Globally, the biofuel industry is estimated to employ around 2.4 million people, excluding those in the upstream and other related downstream industries,” said Yudo in a public discussion recently.
The biofuel will also increase the productivity and support the green economy through big scale of development and investments. Based on data from the government, the mandatory program of biodiesel in 2021 had resulted in the production of around 16.3 million kiloliters of B30, as compared to 13.3 million kiloliters during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Even the biodiesel production in 2020 was higher than that in 2019 at 12 million kiloliters.
“I also hope that the big-scale development of this green economy will spread to other member countries of G20,” Yudo said.
He said that the national biofuel program will be upgraded to the green refinery program with its pilot project in Cilacap, Central Java. Under the project there will be production of Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) or Green Diesel, which is production of second generation biofuel from the refined, bleached, and deodorized palm oil (RBDPO).
The biofuel will also contribute to G20 in developing green economy and in further strengthening international cooperation. Despite the fact that sources of biofuel are limited to certain countries, but the downstream sector of biofuel and derivative products are related to all member countries of G20.
“It will play bigger role in strengthening international cooperation in implementing energy transition and green economy based on biofuel,” he said.
In terms of technology, it will further strengthen the international cooperation in developing more innovative technology for the development of biofuel industry, especially in the markets of developing countries.
“Besides, the international partnership in the biofuel industry will increase the use of biofuel as green energy in transportation sector and other related economic sectors in the future,” Yudo asserted. (*)
Source: dunia-energy.com
