Indonesia Dissafirms Decision of European Parliament on Palm Oil Based Biofuel
The Government of Indonesia, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expresses its dissapointment on the move of the European Parliament (EP) to endorse the phasing out of the use of palm oil-based biofuel as a renewable energy source by 2021.
This discriminative decision, as relesead in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, is reflected in a voting on the draft of Directive on the Promotion of the Use of Energy from Renewable Sources, during a plenary session on 17 January 2018.
The Government of Indonesia is wellaware that this vote is not a final decision. However, it will influence the perspective of consumers in European Union (EU) and give political pressure for the EU member countries as well as other EU institutions on their stance upon palm oil as one of renewable energy sources.<>
It is highly unfortunate that as a respected institution, the EP not just once made this inconsiderate moves. The latest example is the resolution on Palm Oil and Deforestation of Rainforests which decision appears to be biased against palm oil.
The EP, based on the release, consistently ignores the facts that palm oil has high efficiency and productivity. It has the potential to highly contribute to long term environmental conservation as a global land bank compares to other vegetable oil.
Palm oil is also ten times more efficient in terms of the use of land than Europeans rapeseed. Therefore, a decision to phase out palm oil from biofuel program as one of renewable energy sources is seen as a protectionist trade policy rather than an environmental conservation move.
Concerning this issue, the Government of Indonesia is committed to guaranteeing and maintaining economic, social, and environmental benefits of palm oil development through various policies and regulations. Furthermore, palm oil industry in Indonesia has proven its contribution to poverty alleviation, jobs creation, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
It is certain that the next process and final outcome of RED II (Renewable Energy Directive) shall affect the foundation of economic, trade, and investment relations between Indonesia and the EU that continuously growing based on mutual respect.
