BPPT, PTPN V to develop biomass power plants

Indonesia?s Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) and state-owned plantation firm PT Perkebunan Nusantara V will develop biomass-based steam power plants (PLTU) and biogas-based power plants by utilizing palm oil wastes.

"BPPT has already had experiences in developing such power plants. Currently, BPPT is also in cooperation with a Japanese company in researching on power plants based on agricultural wastes,? BPPT Chairman Marzan A Iskandar said during a signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding on the power development cooperation between BPPT and PTPN V in Puspiptek Serpong, Banten, on Wednesday.

With the development of the biomass power plants, PTPN V will utilize its oil palm plantation wastes and reduce its dependence on the use of oil fuels for generating power for its own use and for people living around its plantations, he was quoted by Antara as saying on Wednesday.

PTPN V will also cooperate with BPPT in refining the palm oil in order to increase its prices at the international market.

PTPN V President Director Fauzi Yusuf said that his company would also cooperate with BPPT in developing downstream palm oil industry to produce a number of derivative products as raw materials for making soaps, cosmetics and other products.

PTPN V is one of 15 state plantation companies in Indonesia, controlling a total plantation area of 95,000 hectares - 85,000 Ha oil palm plantation and 10,000 Ha rubber plantation. (*)