InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – As the biggest palm oil producer in the world, Indonesia is in its position to maximize every resource and encourage sustainable practices. Taking advantages on palm oil wastes, such as, empty bunches, trees, liquid waste, and shell of kernel, should be the strategic things to environmentally support circular economy.
In the 2024 International Conference with the theme “Valorising Oil Palm and Agri Waste Feedstocks”, that Asosiasi Pengusaha Cangkang Sawit Indonesia (APCASI) initiated, Coordinator Minister in Economy of Indonesia, Airlangga Hartarto emphasized it would be significant to consider palm oil wastes as the valuable resources. “Palm oil wastes valorization would be the game changer to support the circular economy. This is significant to maintain the balance between economic development and ecological responsibility,” he said, as in the official statement to InfoSAWIT, Friday (4/10/2024).
One promising side product of palm oil industries, is shell of kernel oil. It has calories equal to low rank – coal. For the shell of kernel oil production could be reaching i 13,4 million tons, its uses as boiler fuel in palm oil mills would be the big game changer heading to the environmental energy. Sumatera Island where it produced high quality shell of kernel, would manage Indonesia as the renewable energy market leader (in the world).
The Government of Indonesia is tracking down the potential of co-firing of palm kernel with low rank – coal in many power plants. “This would be the innovation to deliver economic profits and also it is environmental,” Airlangga said.
Besides, Indonesia produced about 3,9 million tons of used palm cooking oil (UCO) in 2023 and used as sustainable material for aviation. The government considered palm kernel peeler as th renewable material for carbon reduction and balance scheme for international scale – flight. The peeler would have the potential as the material to produce bioethanol and animals’ food.
He also said that taking advantages on palm oil wastes would support not only the sustainability but also delivered economic chances, namely in the rural. “The investment in this sector could provide employment, escalate the smallholders’ income, and reinforce the economy locally,” he said.
To realize the goals, Airlangga emphasized it would be significant to get the supporting polices and collaboration among the sectors. “The supporting work frames would stimulate the investment in research and innovation, and would open the ways to be more sustainable palm oil industries,” he said. (T2)
