Tanah Bumbu – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) appreciated PT Jhonlin Group for building a biodiesel factory in the context of industrializing CPO to biodiesel. So as to provide added value and create derivative products from CPO.
“Other companies must start downstreaming and industrializing CPO, into cooking oil, cosmetics or semi-finished goods or other finished goods,” Jokowi said when inaugurating a biodiesel factory owned by PT Jhonlin Agro Raya in Tanah Bumbu Regency, South Kalimantan Province, on Thursday (21/10/2021).
The President said that the downstreaming and industrialization of palm oil must be carried out in the country because of its huge potential. “The potential of crude palm oil (CPO) owned by Indonesia reaches 52 million tons per year so it must be utilized as well as possible. Downstream, industrialization must be carried out and we must force it to be done,” he said.
Jokowi said strengthening the biodiesel industry is a strategic choice for the future. This is an effort to increase national energy security and reduce the size of the trade balance deficit due to diesel imports.
“If we are able to produce our own biodiesel to be used as a mixture into diesel, Indonesia’s imports will certainly fall. My record is that in 2020, foreign exchange reserves are IDR 38 trillion, and it is estimated that in 2021 we can save IDR 56 trillion in foreign exchange,” he said.
According to Jokowi, the construction of this biodiesel factory is able to create jobs, maintain the stabilization of crude palm oil (CPO) prices, and help improve environmental quality through reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“Indonesia holds fast to its commitment to fossil energy and shifts to renewable energy. Therefore, biodiesel production must continue to be increased. Because in 2021 Indonesia is targeted to be able to produce and flow 9.2 million kiloliters. I ask that next year it should increase again,” he said.
Anang Fadhilah
