Biofuel exports projected to increase 22%

JAKARTA. Domestic biofuel producers expect exports to increase 22.22 percent to 2.2 million kiloliters this year on higher overseas demand.

Indonesian Biofuel Producers Association (Aprobi) executive director Paulus Tjakrawan said Monday that half of the total demand would likely come from China and India, and the remainder from other markets, such as Australia, South Korea and Taiwan.

“The rise in demand in these countries is partly attributed to new programs that qualify biofuel as a renewable energy source,” he told reporters.

The business group projects the country’s total biofuel output to reach 5.6 million kiloliters this year, double last year’s total, as producers anticipated a huge jump in domestic consumption. Late last year, the government issued a new policy to raise the portion of biodiesel in fuel blending that is set to take effect this year.

Domestic use is expected to account for up to 3.5 million kiloliters, more than triple what it was last year.