The Indonesian government plans to develop 300,000 hectares of sugar palm plantations this year as part of a national effort to reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports and boost the bioethanol industry. Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni, following President Prabowo Subianto’s directive, visited a sugar palm plantation in Garut, West Java, to assess its renewable energy potential. Praised as a “miraculous tree” by the president, the sugar palm can produce up to 24,000 liters of bioethanol per hectare and contributes to both energy self-sufficiency and environmental resilience. In addition to its biofuel potential, the sugar palm offers significant economic and ecological benefits, including income from its fiber and fruit (kolang-kaling), drought resistance, and soil conservation. Advisor Willie Smits highlighted its role in food security and erosion control, positioning the tree as a nature-based solution for climate and rural development challenges. Despite existing plantations across 2 million hectares, its use as a bioethanol feedstock remains underdeveloped.Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/business/indonesia-to-cultivate-300000-hectares-of-sugar-palm-to-power-bioethanol-push (ICE GIACARTA)

Fonte notizia: Jakarta Globe, 11 May 2025