Agrinas Palma prepares 1 million hectares for bioethanol feedstock

PT Agrinas Palma Nusantara (Persero) is preparing up to 1 million hectares of land to develop raw materials for bioethanol production. This initiative supports President Prabowo Subianto’s plan to increase the ethanol-based gasoline blend to E20.

To address potential shortages in domestic sugarcane production—which is largely reserved for sugar needs—the company is mapping land for energy crops such as cassava, sorghum, and corn. Mohammad Abdul Ghani, President Director of PT Agrinas Palma Nusantara, noted that while sugarcane is a primary global ethanol source, alternative commodities are necessary to meet rising demand. Initial calculations suggest cassava-based bioethanol production costs could range between Rp6,300 and Rp8,000 per liter.