Minister Jonan asks PLN to expand use of cleaner energy source

Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) Ignasius Jonan has asked state-owned utility company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) to continue to increase the use of cleaner energy sources to generate its power plants.

He said the use of cleaner energy includes the use of biofuel from crude palm oil (CPO), known as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), in the company's power plants.

He said there are two benefits of the use of biofuel, first, it reduces the crude oil imports and second, help reduce air pollution.

Minister Jonan said some countries have used CPO-based fuel for their vehicles, such as in Italy.

"If we use CPO-based fuel, it can also help millions of Indonesian farmers, apart from reducing imports and pollution," Minister Jonan said.

The minister made the call amid slowing-pace growth of the use of renewable energy in the country. The government targets renewable energy to contribute 23 percent to the country's energy mix by 2025, from just over 10 percent at present.

Editing by Roffie Kurniawan