BP reaffirms interest to invest in biofuel in Indonesia

British energy giant BP Plc has reaffirmed its interest to develop biofuel in Indonesia.

           

President director of Global Biofuel BP International Ltd. Philip New expressed the interest during a meeting with Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro on Wednesday.

           

BP Indonesia’s spokesperson Niko Kanter, who accompanied New during the meeting, told reporters that the company was still “in a preliminary talk” with the government over the investment plan.

           

“We are seeing the regulation… and how the government to support,” Niko said.

           

Evita Legowo , secretary of the National Team for Biofuel Development, who accompanied the minister during the meeting, told reporters that BP was interested to invest in upstream and downstream biofuel.

           

“They are looking for lands. They have technology, human resources and money. They want to use a second generation technology, which has been developed in order to obtain high production,” Evita said, adding the firm wanted to partner with local firm PT Rajawali Nusantara in the biofuel project.

           

She said BP would use jatropha, sugarcane and sweet sorgum as materials for the biofuel.

           

The firm however wanted the government to issue a regulation to make the use of biofuel as mandatory, she said.

           

“This is what the National Team for Biofuel Development has proposed,” she said.

           

According to Levita, the minister had voiced the government’s support to BP’s biofuel investment plan.

           

“As long as you develop biofuel, we’ll support,” Purnomo was quoted by Evita as saying. (Godang)