Sorghum Cultivation: PTPN I Supports Acceleration of National Energy Resilience

Deputy Minister for Investment and Hilirisasi and Deputy Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Todotua Pasaribu on Tuesday inspected the PTPN I Regional 7 land at Rejosari Estate, Natar, South Lampung, which is slated for sorghum planting. ‘Food and energy resilience are presidential programmes that require acceleration due to their extremely high urgency. The only option is bioenergy processed from plants. PTPN I, as a state-owned plantation enterprise, has the most ready resources to meet this demand. That is the reason we are collaborating with PTPN I on this programme,’ said Todotua. PTPN I President Director Teddy Yunirman Danas welcomed the significant trust placed by the central government. In his remarks, Teddy affirmed PTPN I’s commitment as part of the Nusantara Plantation Holding to optimise assets and land to support national energy self-sufficiency, one of which is through integrated sorghum cultivation. ‘PTPN I is ready to shoulder this mandate. Planting sorghum at Rejosari Estate is a strategic step and a concrete contribution by PTPN I in supporting the government’s bioenergy-based downstreaming initiative. We are not only preparing potential land but also ensuring that the management of this sorghum cultivation is carried out optimally, efficiently, and sustainably so that it can quickly produce the renewable energy raw materials the country needs,’ stressed Teddy. Lampung Governor Rahmat Mirzani Djausal also expressed his support for the selection of Lampung Province, particularly the PTPN I Regional 7 land, as one of the starting points for this strategic project. He expressed hope that the synergy between the central government, regional government, and the state-owned plantation company could become a new economic driver for the surrounding community while strengthening Lampung’s position as a national food barn and green energy hub.