REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - As the deadline of March 28 approaching, Indonesian battle over its crude palm oil (CPO) product continues. Indonesian CPO had the highest standard of greenhouse gas saving, the Minister of Agriculture, Suswono, said. The data from Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) shows CPO as biofuel can gas emission saving up to 37-49 percent.

"According to the research, our CPO is more efficient than soya or corn oil," he said on Thursday.

Indonesian CPO is considered unfit to the standard of US renewable energy related to greenhouse emission, which is at least 20 percent. Notice of data availability (NODA) from Environment Protection Agency (EPA) stated Indonesian CPO’s greenhouse gas saving is only 17 percent, falling short of the 20 percent minimum requirement. 

For renewable diesel, EPA notes the minimum standard of renewable energy is only 11 percent. The EPA has extended the deadline from February 27 to March 28 for public comments over its policy to give more time for Indonesian palm oil producers and other stakeholders of the industry to provide inputs and suggestions, before arriving to a final decision. Suswono said the US allegation that Indonesian CPO failed to meet the EPA minimum standard was unreliable. 

"We are sending the data to US. If they cannot accept it, they only look up for something and it is unfair," he said. Suswono continued, the greenhouse gas saving obtain by Indonesian CPO exceeded the emission absorbed by soy and corn dominating US export. Some suspect that US considers CPO as a threat for its main export commodity while the CPO is also cheaper than soya and corn oil. 

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