Jakarta, TAMBANG, – Biomass is increasingly needed for co-firing in steam power plants (PLTU). PT PLN Energi Primer Indonesia (PLN EPI) is strengthening cooperation with Five Strategic Partners as Prospective Biomass Providers to increase the supply of cofiring at steam power plants (PLTU). This strategic Cooperation Agreement (PKS) was signed by PLN EPI with PT Cakra Alam Persada, PT Palma Banna Mandiri, PT Kurma Karya Global, PT Syahroni Rizki Mandiri, PT Arya Adinata Utama in Jakarta.
PLN EPI Bioenergy Director, Hokkop Situngkir, emphasized that efforts to utilize biomass for supply sustainability must go hand in hand with compliance with spatial planning and regulations as well as the legality of land use.
“Biomass with a very significant increase in utilization is a sector that is currently sensitive, especially regarding the supply of raw materials, planting and land use. We want to ensure that all supplies come from legal sources and do not encourage deforestation,” emphasized Hokkop.
He revealed that most of the biomass currently used in PLTU still comes from waste including forestry waste, agricultural waste, industrial waste and urban waste. In the future, the use of energy crops will be encouraged but will still follow the principles of sustainability and clarity of land rights.
“When the source is energy plants, we make sure from the start that it does not conflict with regulations, including location permits, land permits and suitability of space use,” he said.
Hokkop also highlighted the importance of supply stability, quality of raw materials, and economic certainty for suppliers. He said production facilities must be ready and supported by healthy financing so that the commercial value of biomass is maintained.
“No one can survive in this industry if the commercial side is not clear. An open and mutually beneficial business model is very important so that suppliers and PLN can develop together,” said Hokkop.
He said the need for cofiring to increase the clean energy mix is still very large. In 2025, from the 49 PLTU points that have carried out cofiring, the potential for biomass utilization will reach 2.2 million tons.
“This contribution is equivalent to reducing emissions of 2.2 million tons of CO2e this year,” he said.
On the upstream side, biomass suppliers stated that they were ready to strengthen the availability of raw materials. Commissioner of PT Kurma Karya Global (KKG) Andi Akmal Amnur said the biomass sources being developed include woodchips, sawdust and rice husks originating from forest waste, agricultural waste and wood industry waste, and currently developing the planting of gamal type plants to maintain the sustainability of biomass supply to the PLN Group.
“We are trying to plant 200 hectares of gamal trees, while still prioritizing the use of existing biomass waste,” said Andi
KKG is also conducting research with universities, including trials on the use of elephant grass as a raw material for cofiring. Apart from reducing emissions, biomass is considered capable of opening up new economic opportunities for society.
”The husk used to be worthless, now it can be a source of income. People feel the economic benefits of biomass directly,” said Andi
PLN EPI assesses that the five partners have fulfilled all technical requirements, land legality and production readiness. This collaboration is expected to become a strong foundation in increasing the volume of national biomass supply and accelerating the achievement of the 2060 Net Zero Emissions target.
This collaboration also emphasizes PLN EPI’s role in building a bioenergy ecosystem that is reliable, sustainable and provides economic benefits for communities throughout Indonesia.
Source: www.tambang.co.id
