PALMOILMAGAZINE, PEKANBARU – M. Job Kurniawan, Assistant II at the Riau Province Secretariat, participated in a regional coordination meeting held at Hotel Aryaduta in Pekanbaru. The meeting focused on accelerating strategic investments in plantations, marine resources, fisheries, and forestry, highlighting Riau Province’s prominent role in Indonesia’s palm oil industry.
During the discussion, Job Kurniawan highlighted both the positive and negative impacts of increased palm oil investments on local communities. “Increased palm oil investment can bring significant benefits, such as creating employment opportunities and additional income sources for local residents,” he stated.
However, he also underscored potential drawbacks, including environmental pollution caused by production waste.
Job said, it would be significant to process palm oil waste to minimize the negative impacts for the environment. “Palm oil wastes should be changed to be useful sources. Not only the fruit, but also the waste should be effectively taken for advantages,” he said, as Palmoilmagazine.com quoted from Mediacenter Riau, Friday (5/7/2024).
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He continued, palm oil shell and fiber could be as the materials for boiler. Liquid waste could be used to produce biogas energy by implementing methane capture.
“The waste process would need multiparty cooperation but it is something possible to do if there is the same will,” Job said by taking every party to actively play their roles to maintain the balance between economic progress and environmental conservation.
The meeting was hoped to be the new start to maximize palm oil investment to welfare the local while maintaining the sustainable environment in Riau Province. (T2)
