This strategic cooperation is to increase new renewable energy in the energy mix while reducing carbon emissionsJakarta (ANTARA) - State-run PT Pertamina through its sub-holding Pertamina NRE and state-run plantation PT Perkebunan Nusantara III are producing green energy from palm oil liquid waste at Sei Mangkei biogas power plant (PLTBg), North Sumatra.
The processing of palm oil liquid waste for electricity generation has the potential to reduce methane gas emissions, the companies said.
"This strategic cooperation is to increase new renewable energy in the energy mix while reducing carbon emissions," Pertamina NRE chief executive officer Dannif Danusaputro said in a statement released here on Saturday.
According to Danusaputro, the Sei Mangkei Special Economic Zone, located in Simalungun district, North Sumatra, is a green economic zone.
Biogas and solar-based energy sources are the foundation for ensuring electricity reliability in the region, he said.
Built on two hectares of land owned by Perkebunan Nusantara III, Sei Mangkei PLTBg has the capacity to produce 2.4 megawatts (MW) of power, he informed. The power plant absorbs 288,350 cubic meters of palm oil liquid waste per year, he added.
Meanwhile, president director of State Plantation Company III, Mohammad Abdul Ghani, revealed that the management of palm oil liquid waste overtly produces methane gas that is detrimental to the environment because it can accelerate global warming.
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According to him, the presence of Sei Mangkei PLTBg, which utilizes palm oil liquid waste, has the potential to reduce methane gas emissions by about 2,500 methane hydrocarbons, or the equivalent of 70 thousand tons of carbon dioxide per year.
"As a form of commitment from State Plantation Company Group in the development of new renewable energy and supporting the achievement of the 23-percent energy mix target by 2025, we realized it through the advancement of PLTBg and co-firing biogas program in the company group's oil palm plantation unit with Pertamina NRE," Ghani said.
Sei Mangkei PLTBg has provided many benefits for the company, including reducing methane and carbon gas emissions, reducing fossil-based electricity consumption, and becoming a new source of revenue, he added.
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"The conversion of palm oil liquid waste into electricity gives economic value for the State Plantation Company III of Rp3.5 billion per year," he disclosed.
Other than building the Sei Mangkei biogas power plant, Pertamina NRE has also constructed a two-megawatt solar power plant (PLTS) that has the potential to reduce two thousand tons of carbon dioxide per year, he added.
The operation of biogas and solar electricity will support the realization of green economic zones in Sei Mangkei and support the industry players to obtain green certificates, he said.
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Translator: Sugiharto P, Kenzu T
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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