Bali, August 25, 2023 – Holding Perkebunan Nusantara, through its subsidiary PTPN V, won the second runner up award in the Renewable Energy for Cogeneration category. The award was given for its achievement in developing a biogas power plant in collaboration with the National Research and Innovation Agency at Sei Pagar Palm Oil Mill, Kampar Regency, Riau. PTPN V is the only state-owned plantation company to receive an award in this category.
The award was presented by Malaysia’s Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Nik Nazmi Bin Nik Ahmad, to PTPN V Director Jatmiko Santosa. The award ceremony took place at the Asean Energy Awards (AEA) 2023, which is part of the 41st ASEAN Minister on Energy Meeting (AMEM) and ASEAN Energy Business Forum in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Friday night (25/8/2023).
On the occasion, Jatmiko thanked the organizers and the assessment board for this award. He also stated that this positive achievement is the result of the massive transformation underway at PTPN Group. “This international award will provide more motivation for the company to continue developing the utilization of renewable energy as an integral part of the operations of state-owned plantation companies,” he said. Jatmiko further revealed that PTPN V continues to optimize synergy and knowledge transfer with various parties in an effort to strengthen the utilization of New Renewable Energy (EBT). The company has successfully built five biogas power plant installations (PTBG) through cooperation with the National Research and Innovation Agency and private companies. In addition, the Plantation Holding subsidiary that will join PalmCo is also currently cooperating with South Korea and Japan to strengthen the utilization of biogas.
Jatmiko emphasized that this achievement is in line with the company’s strategy to produce sustainable palm oil products, which has been implemented since 2019. “Decarbonization efforts and the use of renewable energy are among the programs that have been accelerated,” he added. In this context, Jatmiko emphasized that PTPN V, which is also designated by the Plantation Holding as the most adaptive and profitable company in the PTPN Group in 2022, will increase its focus on the utilization of environmentally friendly energy in its operations where it is proven that over the past 4 years PTPN V has completed the construction of 1 Biogas Power Plant and 1 Cofiring Bilogas Power Plant in collaboration with BRIN, as well as 3 Cofiring PTBGs resulting from independent development.
Decarbonization to Strengthen ESG
Meanwhile, President Director of Holding Perkebunan Nusantara PTPN III (Persero), Mohammad Abdul Ghani, explained that the new renewable energy development program is in line with the principles of sustainability on Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) that are implemented sustainably by PTPN Group. Ghani also referred to a recent achievement, where PTPN Group achieved the top spot in the world ranking of ESG implementation, outperforming 108 other agriculture sector companies from Sustainalytics. The leading ESG rating agency operating for 30 years provided a comprehensive assessment and gave an ESG rating of 17.1 for PTPN III (Persero).
“This achievement puts Holding Perkebunan Nusantara in a better position than four other major global agricultural companies, namely COFCO International (HK) Ltd, Marinasol Holding Plc, Tereos SCA, and Louis Dreyfus Co. BV,” Ghani said. “God willing, under the support of our Shareholders and the collaboration of various domestic and foreign parties, we will play an increasingly active role in supporting the Indonesian government’s commitment to reduce emissions by 29% (with our own efforts) and 41% (with international support) by 2030,” he said.
For the record, PTPN V has previously won an award in the Asean Energy Award which is the highest award in the energy sector in ASEAN, and this has become a tradition since 2000. In 2014, PTPN V won first place in the Off Power category through the Tandun Biogas Power Plant project. This plant reflects the spirit of PTPN V in expanding the utilization of renewable energy to eventually make this company a major player in the utilization of PTBG under the auspices of Holding Perkebunan Nusantara.