PALMOILMAGAZINE, TIDORE – PT PLN Energi Primer Indonesia (PLN EPI) has delivered 350 tons of palm kernel shells to support biomass cofiring at the Tidore coal-fired power plant (PLTU) in North Maluku. The shipment was made via sea transportation in collaboration with PT Bumi Indawa Niaga (BIN), an agribusiness company that utilizes palm shell waste sourced from PT Gelora Mandiri Membangun’s palm oil mill.
PLN EPI President Director, Iwan Agung Firstantara, explained that the cofiring program is designed to generate direct economic benefits for local communities by utilizing palm waste as a value-added resource. After a successful trial, palm shells from plantations in the surrounding islands were selected as biomass feedstock for the Tidore power plant.
“Innovations like this not only strengthen our locally sourced energy system but also contribute significantly to achieving Indonesia’s national renewable energy mix target of 23% by 2025,” Iwan stated in an official press release on Saturday (March 29, 2025).
Also Read: Wilmar Commits to Science-Based Carbon Emission Reduction Targets Aligned with SBTi Standards
Ketut Adi Laskito, a representative of PT BIN, expressed full support for the government’s clean energy transition efforts. He noted that the partnership with PLN EPI not only helps reduce carbon emissions but also offers an economic solution by turning palm waste into energy.
“We hope this long-term collaboration continues to grow,” said Ketut. However, he acknowledged logistical challenges in transporting palm shells to Tidore due to the island’s reliance on maritime access and production fluctuations caused by weather conditions.
In addition to the palm shell cargo, the vessel also carried 1,500 tons of palm kernel bound for East Java. If PT BIN’s palm shell supply continues to meet the growing demands of the Tidore power plant, the company plans to expand its biomass sourcing network and deploy specialized vessels for more efficient deliveries.
The government continues to promote biomass cofiring as part of the national energy transition strategy. In 2024 alone, PLN EPI successfully delivered 1.62 million tons of biomass, contributing to a reduction of 1.87 million tons of CO₂ emissions. In 2025, PLN targets to increase biomass deliveries to 3 million tons across all PLN Group power plants. (P2)
