Muara Enim Projected to Become Bioethanol Industry Hub

RRI.CO.ID, Palembang - The Muara Enim Regency Administration in South Sumatra is preparing to convert unproductive critical lands in its territory into bioenergy crop cultivation centers. This move is aimed at supporting the green energy transition while strengthening Muara Enim’s position as a key supporting region for the national bioethanol industry.

Acting Regent of Muara Enim, Sumarni, said the central government has emphasized the crucial role of local administrations. This role includes providing a sustainable supply of raw materials such as sugarcane, cassava, and corn, as well as facilitating investment and drafting local regulations.

She said that Muara Enim Regency has substantial agricultural potential to support the bioethanol industry supply chain.

According to regional agricultural sector data, Muara Enim records significant production figures for various commodities. Among them, corn cultivated on 53 hectares yields 2,828 tons, while cassava grown on 351 hectares produces 11,953 tons per year.

In addition, sugarcane development has begun with a harvested area of 5 hectares in Talang Taling Village, Gelumbang Subdistrict, with estimated production reaching 500 tons.

As a concrete step at the local level, the Muara Enim Regency Administration is ready to implement three main strategies, which are land mapping and provision, farmer capacity building, and accelerated investment licensing.

As reported by Antara, the regency administration will identify and allocate both potential lands and unproductive critical lands through the Regional Spatial Plan (RTRW). This step is intended to ensure these lands can be optimally utilized for planting bioethanol raw material commodities.

Beyond focusing on land availability, the administration is prioritizing the improvement of local farmers’ welfare and productivity. This effort is being carried out through the provision of technical cultivation training, distribution of superior seeds, and supply of quality fertilizers.

“Through this upstream intervention, the quality of farmers’ harvests is expected to consistently and sustainably meet bioethanol industry standards in the future,” she said in a written statement in Palembang on Sunday, September 28, 2026.

In the downstream sector, Sumarni affirmed her administration’s commitment to providing ease and acceleration of business licensing processes in the region for investors interested in building bioethanol processing plants in Muara Enim.

“With strong synergy between the central government and local administrations, Muara Enim is optimistic it can transform into one of the renewable energy granaries that makes a real contribution to national security,” she said. ***