Amid growing momentum toward renewable energy, the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) is re-evaluating potential bioethanol feedstocks that do not threaten national food security. Palm empty fruit bunches (EFB), mixed sugarcane feedstock, and rice husks have been identified as the three safest development options.

“We are highly concerned about food security. Therefore, the chosen bioethanol feedstocks must not clash with national food needs,” said Apit Pria Nugraha, Head of the Center for Green Industry (PIH) at Kemenperin, during the Energy Outlook seminar in Jakarta.

Apit explained that palm EFB offers significant potential for bioethanol production, though it requires a two-stage process—from glucose extraction to ethanol conversion.

The utilization of oil palm waste is being advanced through a collaboration involving the Agro Industry Service and Standardization Center (BBSPJIA), PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMIN), PT Rekayasa Industri, and Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), all of which are contributing to technological innovation in renewable energy.

However, economic viability remains a key challenge. Two strategic options are being evaluated: transporting EFB to centralized processing facilities or developing smaller processing units closer to raw material sources.

“In my view, it is better to bring processing facilities closer to the feedstock. Once converted into bioethanol, the added value becomes much higher,” Apit said, as quoted by InfoSAWIT from Antara.

Beyond palm EFB, sugarcane blend feedstocks and rice husks are also considered suitable options that pose no conflict with food security. “These are the alternatives that do not compromise food availability. It’s not an easy task, but these are the candidates,” he added.

From the energy policy side, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) projects that mandatory E10 bioethanol blending could be implemented by 2028 or earlier. E10 refers to gasoline blended with 10% bioethanol.

Director General of New, Renewable Energy, and Energy Conservation at ESDM, Eniya Listiani Dewi, explained that the program aims to reduce Indonesia’s heavy dependence on gasoline imports.

Data from the ministry show that Indonesia imported 330 million barrels of petroleum in 2024—comprised of 128 million barrels of crude oil and 202 million barrels of refined fuel—while domestic production reached only 212 million barrels.

By focusing on non-food bioethanol feedstocks, the government aims not only to reduce import burdens but also to unlock the potential of agricultural and plantation waste as future energy sources.