MEMR, Boyolali sign agreement on biofuel development

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the regency of Boyolali in Central Java to plant crops for biofuel on critical lands in the regency.

The MOU was signed by Director General of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation at MEMR Ridha Mulyana, Head of Research and Development Agency at the Ministry of Forestry Haryono, and Boyolali Regent Seno Samodro. The signing ceremony was attended by among others Vice Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Susilo Siswoutomo.

Under the MOU, which is effective for five years, a local crop called kemiri sunan (Reutealis Trisperma (Blanco) Airy Shaw) will be planted on 20 hectares of critical lands on the foot of Mount Merapi, in Sumur village, Musuk district. The tree can be planted in between coffee trees.

Kemiri sunan is a good crop for conservation due its plentiful leaves and strong roots. Based on research, the crop can produce more biofuel compared to oil palm or jatropha Aside from the Boyolali regency, the MEMR has also signed cooperation agreements with the Ministry of Forestry and state owned tin mining company PT Timah to plant the crop in Bangka Selatan and Belitang Timur regencies. The crop has also been planted in Sumedang and Garut, West Java.

The development of such biodiesel crop is part of the government?s program to promote the use of biodiesel rather than oil fuel. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has issued a decree obliging the use of biofuel. Oil fuels should contain biofuels amounting to 10 percent.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon