InfoSAWIT, BOGOR — The government’s plan to open 600,000 hectares of new palm oil plantations in 2026 has sparked criticism amid warnings of environmental and social risks. The expansion aims to meet the national target of producing 100 million tons of CPO by 2045 and supply feedstock for next year’s B50 biodiesel mandate.
Sawit Watch Executive Director Achmad Surambo argued that expansion is a “shortcut” that ignores the underperforming smallholder replanting program.
“Expansion is full of risks. Land availability is already critically limited,” Surambo said.
Sawit Watch notes that Indonesia’s ecological carrying capacity for palm oil—about 18.15 million hectares—is nearly maxed out, with 17.3 million hectares already planted. Rising CPO demand could push companies to clear natural forests, triggering major deforestation and ecological disasters.
Social Conflict Expected to Intensify
The group warns that the expansion could worsen land disputes. In 2024 alone, Sawit Watch recorded 1,126 conflicts across 22 provinces involving 385 companies.
Surambo also raised concerns over potential cooking oil shortages as more CPO is diverted to biodiesel, echoing past price spikes.
Sawit Watch is urging the government to revisit the B50 mandate and instead prioritize:
- Strengthening existing biodiesel programs
- Conducting licensing audits
- Resolving ongoing land conflicts
- Optimizing smallholder intensification and replanting
“Intensification may not be politically attractive, but it is far more sustainable and fair for communities,” Surambo concluded. (T2)
