Governent Needs To Develop Biofuel

Jakarta, Oct 17 (Antara) - The government needs to develop smallholder-based biofuel alternative energy that benefits small-scale farmers, according to the Working Group of Palm Oil Alliance for Prosperous Village (POAPV). "It is good for the government to promote smallholder-based biofuel energy development, which will provide us sustainable, eco-friendly fuel," the alliance`s working group coordinator Ahmad Surambo stated here on Friday. He pointed out that the government should formulate a system and technology for its process, which can be managed by the people, so that small-scale farmers can reap the benefits. "I think the government should create an appropriate technology and system that could be owned by many people and be managed directly by the farmers," he remarked. So far, the palm oil business is controlled by large-scale plantation owners. They have shown keen interest to do that business. "If the biofuel business is controlled by capital owners, it is just the same as harming the interests of small farmers," he pointed out. He expressed hope that the government could empower the people in managing alternative energy. If this business can be successfully carried out by small farmers, then it could create smallholder-based energy technology businesses in villages, which will be capable of producing their own energy. "The alternative energy industry should no longer be developed in cities, but instead in villages, so that its growth in the country would be equitable," Ahmad emphasized. Based on the government`s data, Indonesia`s energy consumption needs in 2010 reached 3.3 million barrels of oil equivalent per day. It is expected that in the next 15 years, Indonesia`s energy requirements will increase to 7.7 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.