InfoSAWIT, BOGOR – Palm oil should play a stronger role in Indonesia’s national energy security, with the commodity’s potential extending beyond food and feed to become a major source of energy, according to House of Representatives Commission XII member Ateng Sutisna.
Ateng made the remarks during a limited discussion forum organized by Rumah Sawit Indonesia in cooperation with IPB University in Bogor. The discussion also touched on the direction of national environmental and climate policies.
InfoSAWIT reported from Ateng Sutisna’s statement at the forum on Monday (August 31, 2026), that palm oil-based energy development should be considered in national policymaking as the government and parliament work on revisions to environmental legislation and prepare a Climate Change Law.
Palm Oil for Food, Feed and Energy
Ateng said palm oil has strategic potential because its development can involve communities while supporting national priorities.
He argued that palm oil should no longer be viewed solely as a source of food and feed, but also as an important feedstock for meeting Indonesia’s growing energy needs.
He also referred to the government’s policy under President Prabowo Subianto to expand palm oil-based biodiesel, including the planned implementation of the B50 biodiesel program.
According to Ateng, successful implementation of B50 could reduce Indonesia’s dependence on certain fuel imports while strengthening palm oil’s position as a strategic commodity for national energy security.
For that reason, he urged policymakers to maintain palm oil-based energy development as part of the national policy agenda.
Palm Oil Expansion Must Avoid Conservation Areas
Ateng nevertheless stressed that palm oil development must continue to take environmental and spatial-planning considerations into account.
He said palm oil plantations should not be developed in conservation areas, while opportunities could still be explored on suitable land outside conservation zones. He also pointed to degraded or critical land as one option that could be assessed for future plantation development.
The approach, he said, is important to ensure that efforts to increase palm oil production do not lead to accusations that the commodity is responsible for forest and environmental degradation.
Environmental Rules Should Not Undermine the Industry
Ateng also raised concerns over the ongoing revision of environmental regulations and the planned Climate Change Law.
He hopes the resulting regulations will take into account palm oil’s strategic contribution to Indonesia’s economy, food security and energy security, rather than creating policies that could negatively affect the industry’s development.
At the same time, he called on Indonesia to demonstrate internationally that palm oil development can be pursued while protecting forests, the environment and the climate.
Nationalism Proposed as Part of Palm Oil Governance
During the forum, Ateng also responded to the concept of a New Nexus presented earlier by IPB University Professor Hariyadi.
He noted that discussions surrounding the palm oil industry initially focused on three major dimensions—ecology, economics and social interests. As the industry has become more complex, however, the framework needs to be broadened.
Ateng proposed adding nationalism as another dimension in the New Nexus framework. He argued that this is important amid disparities between farmers, workers and business owners, as well as concerns over unhealthy business practices, including underpricing.
In his view, a strong palm oil industry should not be measured only by production volumes and corporate profits. Farmers and workers, along with the wider distribution of economic benefits, must also be incorporated into industry governance.
Ultimately, palm oil development should balance economic, environmental, social and energy interests with Indonesia’s broader national interests. (T2)
