Indocement, IPB to farm jatropha

BOGOR (JP) : Listed cement producer PT Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa Tbk has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) to develop a jatropha curcus plantation.

Under the MoU, the IPB will provide seeds while the company will grow the plant on 30 hectares of its land.

President director of Indocement Daniel Lavalle said that the program was aimed at increasing the use of alternative fuels in the company.

"This is in line with the government's program to increase the use of renewable energy and with our Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)," he said.

The CDM is part of the Kyoto Protocol and allows companies in developing countries to host greenhouse gas emissions reduction programs.

The host company then receives a certificate of emissions reduction from the United Nations executive body based on the amount of carbon reduction points that can then be sold to rich countries.

Indocement is the first Indonesian company to implement a CDM project and it has been listed at the executive board of the United Nations.

Jatropha curcas oil produces energy almost equal to that produced by diesel oil. --JP