Paulus Tjakrawan Taningdjaja on the potential of biofuels in decarbonising the transport sector
Ahead of the Sustainable Innovation Forum 2019 taking place in Madrid, Spain on the 10-11th December, we caught up with Paulus Tjakrawan Taningdjaja, Commissioner at the Indonesia Biofuels Producer Association (APROBI), to discuss the potential of biofuels in decarbonising the heavy transport sector.
Ahead of the Sustainable Innovation Forum 2019 taking place in Madrid, Spain on the 10-11th December, we caught up with Paulus Tjakrawan Taningdjaja, Commissioner at the Indonesia Biofuels Producer Association (APROBI), to discuss the potential of biofuels in decarbonisin the heavy transport sector.
Q. Let’s start with some background on APROBI and the Association’s ambitions in the near future.
APROBI was established in 2006 with the aim of helping the biofuel industry to play a role in supporting the government in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, poverty alleviation and job creation.
Our ambition is to continue to increase support for emissions reductions and create a better trade balance
Q. What is the potential of biofuels in decarbonising the heavy transport sector? What policy support and investment in innovation is needed to accelerate and utilise its potential?
With the implementation of the obligation to use biodiesel by 30 percent next year, it will use around 9.9 million kilo litres of biodiesel and has the potential to reduce emissions by 26 million tons of CO2, including in the heavy transport sector.
The Government of Indonesia opens up enormous opportunities for investment in the field of biofuels and provides opportunities to join participating in the biodiesel mandatory program.
Q. Why is it important to accelerate the adoption of biofuel technologies in the drive towards decarbonisation?
We have a strong commitment to reducing GHG emissions, surely, all sectors must do their part to support the climate action. Indonesia has a lot of feedstock of biofuels, so, we take this opportunity to take part in that action. It is proven that the use of biodiesel reduces emissions greatly. Besides, all parties in Indonesia support the use of biofuels.
Q. Indonesia has been extremely successful in integrating biofuels into the energy and transport sectors domestically, where do you think biofuels can have the biggest impact in the future?
In the future, we will soon also develop green gasoline and green aviation fuel, which of course will greatly affect the use of biofuels in Indonesia.
Gasoline is used in Indonesia at 28 million kilolitres. So, we will seek to use green gasoline to accelerate the achievement of emissions reductions as well as Indonesia's trade balance.
Q. What is the importance of events such as the Sustainable Innovation Forum in supporting the advancement of sustainable fuels?
We consider the Sustainable Innovation Forum important for the development of the use of biofuels because we want the world to know what is happening to the 4th most populous country in the world in its efforts to reduce emissions, provide employment and alleviate poverty.
We also want to invite the world's business people to invest in Indonesia and invite other collaborations to develop efforts to reduce emissions and be sustainable.
The Indonesia Biofuels Producer Association is a Strategic Partner of the upcoming 10th annual Sustainable Innovation Forum taking place alongside COP25, 10-11 December in Madrid, Spain. To learn more about the agenda, the panels, the speakers and how to register, visit the event's official website here.
