President Prabowo Reviews PTPN I Bioethanol Downstreaming in Malang
President Prabowo Subianto reviewed the development of sugarcane downstreaming into bioethanol carried out by PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) I (Persero) while attending the TNI Grand Harvest in support of the National Food Security Programme at Abdulrachman Saleh Air Base, Malang Regency, East Java, on Friday (17/7).
At the event, the President was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, as well as a number of ministers, agency heads, regional leaders, and state-owned enterprise directors.
While touring the PTPN I exhibition stand, the President received a briefing on the development of bioethanol made from sugarcane molasses, produced by PT Energi Agro Nusantara (Enero), a subsidiary of PTPN I.
PTPN I President Director Abdul Rivai Ras said the company continues to develop sugarcane downstreaming as part of efforts to support energy security and increase the added value of plantation commodities.
“Through PT Energi Agro Nusantara (Enero), we process sugarcane molasses into bioethanol with a production capacity of 100 kilolitres per day. This bioethanol is used as fuel-grade ethanol for fuel blending, including Pertamax Green 95. In addition, we also produce extra neutral alcohol for cosmetics and pharmaceutical needs, spirit, and biological fertiliser,” said Rivai.
According to him, bioethanol development is one of PTPN I’s strategies to strengthen renewable energy while supporting the downstreaming programme launched by the government.
In his remarks, President Prabowo emphasised that food security is a shared responsibility requiring collaboration among all elements of the nation, from the government, the TNI, the police, state-owned enterprises, the business community, to the wider public.
“This event shows that food security is not solely the affairs of the Ministry of Agriculture, but a national movement involving all the strength of the nation. I invite all the forces of our nation to unite for our nation and our people,” said Prabowo.
Meanwhile, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto said the TNI Grand Harvest is proof of cross-sector synergy in supporting the National Food Security Programme.
“This achievement is the result of synergy between the TNI, the government, state-owned enterprises, the business community, academics, and the public. We respectfully request the President’s guidance so that all the programmes we carry out remain aligned with government policy and deliver the greatest possible benefit to the Indonesian people,” said Agus.
He added that sugarcane downstreaming not only produces bioethanol as a biofuel, but also various value-added products such as molasses, industrial and pharmaceutical raw materials, organic fertiliser, and other derivative products that contribute to the national economy.
Through this bioethanol development, PTPN I affirms its commitment to supporting national food and energy security while strengthening downstreaming in the plantation sector through innovation and the utilisation of renewable energy.