Indonesia Pushes Timber Production for Biomass Energy

On September 18, Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry announced its intention to scale up industrial timber plantations, part of its plan to integrate wood-based biomass into its energy mix. According to Tony Rianto, Head of the Sub-Directorate of Forest Production Certification and Marketing, sustainably managed industrial timber plantations are not the cause of deforestation. Instead, they can provide renewable energy, rehabilitate degraded land, and contribute to the government’s 2030 Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink target.
The Forestry Ministry anticipates that the new plantations will play a critical role in enhancing Indonesia’s energy security by supplementing intermittent solar and hydropower with reliable baseload generation. Additionally, the program will create tens of thousands of rural jobs and encourage domestic and foreign investment in wood-pellet manufacturing – allowing Indonesia to become a leading exporter of certified biomass fuel. Environmental advocates have raised concerns over potential land grabs and the displacement of local villagers. In response, the ministry has introduced new safeguards, including strict regulations, technology-based monitoring, mandatory sustainability certification (SVLK), and action against violators.