Enviro News Asia, Belawan – For the first time in history, PT PLN (Persero) has operated co-firing using Bio Compressed Natural Gas (BioCNG) derived from palm oil waste at the Belawan Gas and Steam Power Plant (PLTGU) in North Sumatra on Saturday (August 16, 2025).
This clean energy innovation also serves as a special gift to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia.
The inaugural use of this renewable energy marks a significant milestone in diversifying environmentally friendly energy sources while strengthening PLN’s commitment to achieving Net Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2060 or earlier.
The Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Eniya Listiani Dewi, who attended the inauguration, expressed appreciation for PLN’s pioneering step in presenting Indonesia’s first BioCNG innovation.
“I highly appreciate this first co-firing of BioCNG in Indonesia as an effort to build renewable energy (EBT) in the power generation sector. This will increase the renewable energy mix, particularly in North Sumatra,” said Eniya in her remarks on Thursday (August 14).
PLN’s President Director, Darmawan Prasodjo, emphasized that PLN will continue to optimize local potential to provide clean energy solutions.
“Through the utilization of new and renewable energy, we are not only delivering environmentally friendly electricity but also strengthening energy sovereignty while simultaneously driving economic growth, creating new jobs, and helping to alleviate poverty,” said Darmawan.
The BioCNG used at PLTGU Belawan is produced from processing palm oil mill effluent (POME). As the world’s largest palm oil producer, Indonesia holds significant potential to convert this waste into a sustainable renewable energy source.
This utilization not only provides a more environmentally friendly and economically stable energy solution but also delivers direct benefits to communities, such as creating new jobs, increasing farmers’ income, fostering the growth of local processing industries, and reducing environmental pollution around plantation areas.
Meanwhile, PLN’s Director of Technology, Engineering, and Sustainability, Evy Haryadi, revealed that the potential for clean electricity from BioCNG utilization in North Sumatra reaches 478 GWh per year.
“Through the integration of BioCNG as an alternative fuel, PLN has succeeded in reducing dependence on fossil energy while at the same time utilizing organic waste into clean energy. This BioCNG utilization will contribute to clean electricity production of 478 GWh per year, fuel savings equivalent to Rp48 billion per year, and a reduction of CO2 emissions by 80,000 tons per year,” said Haryadi.
PLTGU Belawan has an installed capacity of 1,184 MW and contributes 10.96% of electricity supply in Sumatra and 30.75% in North Sumatra. Throughout 2024, biomass co-firing achievements in PLN’s power plants reached 854,000 MWh, with the target set to increase through the use of BioCNG.
Through this initiative, PLN demonstrates both technological readiness and full commitment to accelerating the clean energy transition, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and developing sustainable renewable energy for the future of Indonesia. (*)
