Jakarta, INTI – The celebration of Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day becomes even more meaningful with a historic step by PT PLN (Persero). For the first time, PLN has operated a Bio Compressed Natural Gas (BioCNG) co-firing system using palm oil waste at the Belawan Gas-Fired Power Plant (PLTGU Belawan), North Sumatra.
This innovation marks a milestone in renewable energy utilization while reinforcing PLN’s commitment to achieving Net Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2060 or earlier.
Government Appreciation
The Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Eniya Listiani Dewi, praised PLN’s achievement in introducing Indonesia’s first BioCNG co-firing system.
“I highly appreciate this initiative as a concrete effort to advance renewable energy in the power generation sector. The presence of BioCNG will boost the share of clean energy, particularly in North Sumatra,” she stated.
Economic Benefits and Eco-Friendly Energy
PLN’s President Director, Darmawan Prasodjo, emphasized that this new energy initiative not only provides environmentally friendly electricity but also brings positive impacts to society.
“With BioCNG, PLN strengthens energy sovereignty, stimulates economic growth, creates new jobs, and helps reduce poverty,” Darmawan said.
BioCNG is produced from processing Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME), a liquid waste from palm oil mills. As the world’s largest palm oil producer, Indonesia has great potential to turn this waste into a sustainable renewable energy source.
Clean Power Potential and Emission Reduction
PLN’s Director of Technology, Engineering, and Sustainability, Evy Haryadi, revealed that BioCNG utilization can generate 478 GWh of clean electricity annually, equal to Rp48 billion in annual savings, while reducing carbon emissions by up to 80,000 tons of CO2 per year.
With an installed capacity of 1,184 MW, PLTGU Belawan plays a major role in electricity supply in Sumatra, contributing 10.96 percent to the entire island and 30.75 percent to North Sumatra.
Toward National Energy Transition
Throughout 2024, PLN’s biomass co-firing in power plants reached 854,000 MWh. With the introduction of BioCNG, the share of renewable energy in Indonesia’s energy mix will further increase.
This innovation proves PLN’s technological readiness and strong commitment to accelerating energy transition, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and strengthening Indonesia’s energy sovereignty.
Conclusion
PLN’s initiative to transform palm oil waste into electricity at PLTGU Belawan marks a new chapter in Indonesia’s renewable energy development. This innovation is not only a special gift for the nation’s 80th Independence Day but also concrete evidence of a sustainable energy future that is environmentally friendly and beneficial to society.
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