PALMOILMAGAZINE, BALI – Indonesia’s palm oil sector has significant potential to contribute to national greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets. One key strategy is the effective management of palm oil mill effluent (POME), which could play a crucial role in minimizing emissions from the industry.
Rizaldi Boer, Head of the International Research Institute for Environment and Climate Change at Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), emphasized that improved waste management, energy efficiency, forest conservation, and peatland restoration can significantly cut emissions.
“With technologies such as evaporation, emissions from POME can be reduced by 90-95%,” said Rizaldi during a discussion at the International Conference on Oil Palm and Environment (ICOPE) Series 2025, held at Bali Beach Convention in mid-February 2025.
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Indonesia has committed to reducing GHG emissions by 31.89% by 2030. However, the palm oil industry currently contributes around 143 million tons of CO₂ equivalent per year, making up 18% of the country’s total emissions. A major source of these emissions comes from palm oil processing wastewater.
Beyond emission reduction, palm oil waste management also holds economic potential. Rizaldi highlighted that solid palm waste can be processed into biochar, which can sequester 1.5 tons of CO₂ per ton of biochar. Indonesia has the potential to produce 583,000 tons of biochar, which could significantly enhance soil quality.
Meanwhile, Shahrakbah Yacob, Vice President of Sime Darby Guthrie, highlighted additional benefits of palm oil waste utilization. “This waste is highly valuable as a supplement and fertilizer, enriching soil organic carbon and improving moisture retention,” he explained.
By adopting modern waste management technologies, the palm oil industry can become a key contributor to national emission reduction efforts, while also delivering economic and environmental benefits for a sustainable future. (P2)
