East Java needs 48,000 tons of jatropha

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Pasuruan | Mon, 03/15/2010 10:25 AM

East Java looks to the prospect of becoming the first commercial biofuel producer in Indonesia with a capacity of 1 million liters annually.

Such a volume is expected from PT Alegria Indonesia, which is set to complete the construction of a plant in Pasuruan regency this year. The plant, located on 22 hectares of land at Oro-oro village, Kejayan district, commenced the construction last year under the Indonesia-Japanese joint venture with an investment value of more than US$300 million.

Chief executive officer of PT Alegria Indonesia Wahyu Suprihadi Eko Sasono said the plant would need 48,000 tons of dried jatropha seeds in a month.

The Pasuruan administration office has encouraged people to optimize the land use and cultivate jatropha in order to meet demands.

“For the initial stage, we expect 4,000 tons of dried jatropha seeds. The volume will gradually grow to 48,000 tons in order to produce 1 million liters of biofuel annually,” said Edy Suwanto, the head of Pasuruan Forestry and Plantation Office.

He said his office was conducting a campaign to raise awareness about the commercial benefit of jatropha and encourage people to use their neglected land for the plantation.

He said his office was expecting to open 1,200 hectares of the neglected land for jatropha cultivation this year.

“The plantation area will gradually expand because Pasuruan has more than 30,000 hectares of neglected land left idle, although the area suitable for jatropha plantation covers only 11,000 hectares.”

Data shows Indonesia has 77 million hectares of neglected land, 50 million of which can be developed into jatropha plantations while those in Pasuruan accounts for 2 percent of 1.7 million hectares in East Java.

PT Alegria Indonesia is currently working with the Karangploso Tobacco and Fiber Plants Research Center in Malang regency to conduct tests and cultivate seedlings. The center is equipped with a processing unit able to produce 10,000 liters of biofuel daily.

The price of dried jatropha seeds with around 30 percent water content is Rp 1,200 (12 cents) per kilogram.

Counseling programs are available for the farmers on how to grow jatropha for higher yields.

Past biofuel program have failed, resulting in losses for jatropha farmers. However, Wahyu ensured that would not be a repeat.

“We are aware that most people are not interested in growing jatropha again because many have suffered a great deal of loss because most of the biofuel programs failed. But they don’t have to worry now. We will see to it their products will not be neglected.”

Edy reasserted they would buy up all the stock and had deposited a sum of funds in the bank as a guarantee to the farmers.

“But the quality of jatropha seeds must be in line with factory standards.”

The regency administration does not seem the only one interested in developing jatropha-instilled biofuel as an alternative energy. The Defense Ministry has been sending a team to Pasuruan to observe the project.

Team member Col. Purwanto said the ministry was looking to alternative energy resources to ensure domestic energy reliance in the future.