InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Minister of Trade, Zulkifli Hasan emphasized that Indonesia would maximize crude palm oil (CPO) and its derivative usage in this country if Europe would decide to stop its imports from Indonesia. The statement was also the response to European Union Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR). The continent limited some commodity imports from Indonesia because of deforestation reason.
“We should not worry about. The elected President Prabowo would increase biodiesel program from B20 to B35 and even to be B60. If Europe would not purchase, it would not be a matter,” he said in Jakarta, Thursday (29/08/2024).
Zulkifli also mentioned Indonesia would need much more CPO to produce biodiesel and other alternative fuels, such as, bio – aviation turbine. This would be part of CPO diversification usage in this country that would be significant when many countries pressed.
“We would invest in aviation turbine production in CPO base. It means, CPO needs in this country would be bigger in numbers,” he said.
Expert Staff of Minister of International Trade, Bara Krishna Hasibuan said that CPO usage would be prioritized to this country only, particularly to develop biodiesel. But Indonesia would not fully stop CPO exports.
“The priority would be for domestic needs, namely to develop biodiesel. The exports would always be existing even though it would be less to fulfill the needs in this country,” Hasibuan said.
Vice Minister of Agriculture, Sudaryono emphasized it would be significant to develop palm oil plantation productivity to support B5o program. In his visit to Pasar Minggu, Jakarta, Wednesday (21/08/2024), he mentioned that it would need to plant certified seeds and modern nursery technic.
“Indonesia has its potential to implement B50 because 60 percent of CPO production in the globe derived from Indonesia. But we have some challenges, namely from European countries that reject our product,” Sudaryono said.
He also emphasized the energy shift from fossil to renewable energy would be urgent and CPO would be the key to fulfill more environmental energy needs. The Government of Indonesia, he thought, successfully implemented B35, and would escalate biodiesel mixture to be B50. (T2)
