Jakarta – Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said that the ministry is preparing forest areas to support the development of bioethanol from palm trees. He said that this commitment departs from President Prabowo Subianto’s political promise to maximise forest land use for strategic purposes in the energy and food sectors and achieve energy self-sufficiency while improving people’s welfare.
“The President targets two million hectares of forest areas for palm tree-based bioethanol production. This is not only an energy solution but also an opportunity to improve the welfare of farmers,” Raja Juli Antoni said in a statement on Saturday, December 14.
He emphasised that aren palm trees have great potential that needs to be maximised in food production and as a sustainable source of renewable energy.
Raja Juli Antoni also mentioned that developing bioethanol from aren palm could be an economic solution for farmers in areas around the forest. According to him, cross-sector collaboration is needed to realise this effort optimally.
On the same occasion, conservationist and microbiologist Willie Smits, who accompanied the Minister of Forestry, appreciated the government’s step to ensure the potential of sugar palm as a renewable energy source. Willie also emphasised the importance of seeing aren palm trees as a multifunctional strategic commodity.
“Aren can be the key to meeting national bioethanol needs and, at the same time, improving the economic conditions of local communities. This is a huge opportunity for green and sustainable energy,” he added.
President Prabowo’s plan to utilise two million hectares of forest area as bioethanol production land is an ambitious step that answers the energy security challenge in Indonesia.
Raja Juli Antoni is optimistic that the development can go hand in hand with forest conservation and community empowerment. “Forest land is not only a food reserve, but can also be an energy source.” He concluded that we are ready to facilitate this policy to balance the economy, ecology, and farmers’ welfare. (Hartatik)
