Indonesia’s Sugar Palm Strategy Fuels Bioethanol Ambitions
Indonesia Turning to the Sugar Palm Industry to Realise Bioethanol Ambitions
Indonesia is developing the sugar palm industry as a source of fuel for the national bioethanol industry. The government plans to cultivate 300,000 hectares of sugar palm in the coming year to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and promote renewable energy use.
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni recently visited a sugar palm plantation in West Java to assess its potential for large-scale energy production. His trip came after President Prabowo Subianto’s instruction to make the tree’s plantation a national priority.
Renewable Energy and Economic Resilience
Sugar palm in Indonesia has been recognised for several ecological and commercial benefits. The sap of the plant can be refined into a high-grade bioethanol. Furthermore, the effectiveness is high- each hectare has the capacity to yield up to 24,000 litres of fuel. Advocates suggest that scaling this to one million hectares could bring Indonesia close to energy independence.
The president’s directive includes immediate planting using high-yield varieties to meet renewable energy targets. This aligns with the government’s goal of deriving 23 percent of its energy consumption from sustainable sources within the year.
Also important to note, each plant can offer other economic advantages even after the fuel has been extracted. The fibre can fetch up to Rp 2 million per tree, while the fruit, commonly known as kolang-kaling, is a staple in Indonesian cuisine and contributes to national food security.
Environmental Protection and Local Benefits
Sugar palm trees possess a deep root system, which enables them to withstand dry climates and stabilise soil in steep terrain. This means that the crop can flourish and be an environmental safeguard in regions vulnerable to drought, erosion, and landslides.
Indonesia currently has about two million hectares of sugar palm plantations, most of which are used for traditional products such as palm sugar and fruit. However, the move to expand its role into renewable energy signals a shift in strategy, focusing on long-term sustainability and rural economic development.
Although the potential of the sugar palm remains underutilised as a bioethanol source, this initiative could pave the way for broader innovation in the country’s energy landscape.
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