
Jakarta (VNA) – SecretaryGeneral of the Indonesian National Energy Committee Djoko Siswanto saidthe country is developing green fuel as an end-product of palm oil, to reducethe country's reliance on costly oil imports.
Speaking at the 15th Indonesian Palm Oil Conference recently held in Bali, Djoko said Indonesia istesting green fuel production in refineries in Dumai and Plaju, and looks toput bio-fuel, including aviation fuel products, up to the market by 2022 or2023.
At present, only 12 percent ofrefineries produce bio-fuel, he said, adding that the government is seekingdomestic and foreign investors to build more refineries, especially in regionsclose to oil palm plantations in Sumatra and Kalimantan. However, there are noplans at this stage to export green fuels.
Indonesia's drive to convert palm oilinto green fuel would require around 8.8 million hectares of oil palmplantations.
Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said thegovernment would increase the percentage of biodiesel in the national fuel mix.
The 30 percent biodiesel policy willstart in January 2020 and consume an additional 3 million tonnes of palm oilfor the entire year, he said./.