MGRO USES BIOGAS TO REPLACE DIESEL IN DECARBONIZATION & SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS
17 December 2024
Biogas energy is one of the alternatives to obtain environmentally friendly energy that is decarbonized in meeting energy needs for factory and manufacturing operations. The palm oil processing industry has great prospects for producing similar energy from fresh fruit bunch (FFB) processing waste through a decomposition process that utilizes the potential of methane gas (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) into clean energy.
PT Mahkota Group Tbk (MGRO) has started the development of biogas energy from the processing of FFB waste to replace the use of diesel in high pressure boilers in the Refinery process. Development Director of PT Mahkota Group Tbk, Usman Sarsi, said that his party consistently continues to develop biogas projects from palm oil waste.
The use of biogas as a substitute for diesel is able to save industrial diesel fuel. This biogas project is part of the Integrated Sustainable Agro Industry area of oil palm covering 25 hectares at the Duri 13 factory site, Bathin Sobanga Village, Bathin Solapan District, Bengkalis Regency, Riau Province.
Furthermore, Usman Sarsi revealed that the green economy business concept in the palm oil industry has become a business road map that is worked on by his party, where one of the forms is by producing clean energy based on the utilization of palm oil waste for the operational needs of palm oil processing plants.
“There are two goals for the development of this green economy. First, to protect the environment which is indeed a concern and collective awareness of the global business world. Second, we want to achieve an efficient business operating system as well as the opportunity to earn new income for the company. We are starting to realize this in the development of our biogas project at the Riau plant,” said Usman Sarsi, Monday (16/12).
He added, the development of the biogas project at the plant in Riau is already well underway bringing new hope in a sustainable business development model for MGRO.
Green Energy Investment
MGRO management sees a great opportunity for the palm oil agro-industry to take advantage of the Global Methane Agreement initiative launched at COP26 or the 26th United Nations climate change conference. The agreement between nations aims to reduce anthropogenic methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030. Reducing emissions from methane is also a priority in Indonesia, where methane accounts for about 33.7% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
“We have allocated investment funds to work on the potential of biogas energy that can be developed at the plant in Riau. We will benefit from our green commitment as well as the financial benefits of the efficiency and commercial aspects of renewable energy,” said Fuad Halimoen, MGRO Operations Director.
“This is certainly a step forward in line with the implementation of sustainability principles in the palm oil industry known as Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil, while supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovative renewable energy projects,” he said.