In India, ChiniMindi reported that the Ministry of Industry of Indonesia has identified East Java as a prime location for setting up an ethanol plant to support Indonesia’s plan to introduce a mandatory 10% bioethanol blend (E10) in fuel.
“The most promising location is East Java because of its high molasses output,” said Acting Director General of Agro-Industry Putu Juli Ardika. Molasses, a byproduct of sugar production from sugarcane and beetroot, can be processed into bioethanol.
To support this initiative, the government has allocated $93 million for a ratoon removal program aimed at rejuvenating unproductive sugarcane crops. The program targets 100,000 hectares of land, with East Java accounting for 70,000 hectares across 26 districts, Ardika added.
He noted that Merauke could also be considered for future ethanol plant development once the region’s sugar self-sufficiency program produces results. However, for ethanol made from sago, the site is still under review. “If it’s sago-based, the National Agency for Research and Innovation (BRIN) is conducting a study. Potential sites include Papua, Maluku, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, and Sumatra,” Ardika said.