RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The development of sorghum-based green energy is expanding in Indonesia, with PT PLN Energi Primer Indonesia (PLN EPI), a subsidiary of state-owned electricity company PLN, partnering with the private sector to strengthen biomass supply and support the net-zero emissions target.

PLN EPI is exploring a bioenergy partnership with PT Sorbu Agro Energi, which focuses on utilizing sorghum as a biomass source for co-firing in coal-fired power plants (PLTU).

PLN EPI’s Director of Biomass, Hokkop Situngkir, said biomass plays a crucial role in directly reducing carbon emissions by decreasing coal usage. “Partially substituting coal with biomass is a concrete step toward lowering emissions,” Hokkop said in Jakarta on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He added that sorghum-based bioenergy development also supports national energy and food security programs. Global demand for biomass continues to rise, particularly in Japan and South Korea, which are actively seeking new sources of supply.

PLN EPI has developed nearly 14 types of biomass for the co-firing program in coal-fired power plants. The company has secured supply contracts for about 1 million tons of biomass through nearly 100 partnerships across various regions.

“We are focused on the supply and utilization of biomass for power plants. For the cultivation sector, we collaborate with partners to create a sustainable ecosystem,” Hokkop said.

The collaboration was formalized with the signing of a memorandum of understanding in Jakarta on May 18. Under the agreement, PLN EPI acts as the biomass offtaker and primary energy ecosystem developer, while Sorbu Agro Energi manages cultivation.

Sorbu Agro Energi Director Verdi Budiman said his company manages about 10,000 hectares of land in Gorontalo, with development potential of up to 40,000 hectares through the social forestry program. The initial phase will be developed in Totopo Village, covering 218 hectares, located about 56 kilometers from the Anggrek Power Plant in North Gorontalo.

“We are expected to serve as the driving force behind an integrated ecosystem-based social forestry program encompassing biomass energy, livestock, biogas, and other derivative products,” Verdi said.

He explained that the collaboration will involve various parties, including PLN EPI and the Faculty of Agriculture at Gorontalo State University. The scope includes bioenergy development studies, the creation of a biomass hub in Sulawesi, technology assessments, and exploration of wood biomass and other biological resources to support the national energy transition.

Hokkop emphasized that sorghum-based bioenergy development is a concrete step in building a community-based clean energy ecosystem, turning local potential into global solutions to reduce emissions, strengthen energy security, and improve public welfare. ***