Appointed to Manage 221,000 Hectares of Oil Palm Plantations, Agrinas Will Support Green Energy

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - PT Agrinas Palma Nusantara (Persero) is committed to becoming a state-owned company that supports energy self-sufficiency. This support will be carried out after they receive a mandate to manage evidence from the corruption case investigation of PT Duta Palma, consisting of palm oil plantations covering an area of 221,868 hectares, from the Attorney General's Office of the Republic of Indonesia.

The company resulting from the rebranding of the State-Owned Enterprise (BUMN) in the field of engineering and management consulting PT Indra Karya (Persero), on Monday (10/3/2025), signed the minutes of the deposit of evidence of oil palm plantations from the Attorney General of the Republic of Indonesia Burhanuddin to the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir in Jakarta.

"PT Agrinas Palma Nusantara is only a small part of carrying out this task to support energy self-sufficiency in the framework of achieving a golden Indonesia, while also reducing poverty, decreasing unemployment, and improving the welfare of the people of Indonesia," stated the President Director of PT Agrinas Palma Nusantara, Lieutenant General (retired) Agus Sutomo, during a press conference.

To reporters, he explained that their company has the primary goal of achieving energy self-sufficiency through green energy, which reduces the use of fossil fuel sources. In this case, biodiesel, which is a biofuel derived from palm oil (CPO).

Biodiesel, which serves as an alternative to diesel fuel for diesel-engine vehicles, began to be developed by the government in 2006. Starting this year, the government is implementing diesel fuel mixed with 40 percent palm oil-based biodiesel, known as B40.

"We hope that each hectare, according to our target, will produce at least 25 tons (of palm oil) per year," he said. From this productivity, he added, it will be gradually optimized for biodiesel needs.

Meanwhile, for the initial stage of managing these assets, they will begin by establishing a plantation area organization to continue the business and optimize its results in a transparent and accountable manner. Subsequently, they will restore the rights of plantation workers who were previously under PT Duta Palma Group. The company has been involved in corruption cases for several years.

The Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) of the Attorney General's Office (Kejagung) Febrie Adriansyah, explained that the submission of this evidence was aimed at ensuring that the quality of the plantations and the workforce left behind did not continue to decline.

Moreover, the area of evidence of this plantation is very significant, covering 221,868 hectares in two provinces, Riau and West Kalimantan (Kalbar). The area of the plantation consists of 37 plots of land and buildings. In Riau, the plantation consists of seven plots of land covering 43,824.52 hectares, precisely in Kuantan Singingi, Rokan Hulu, Kampar, and Pelalawan Regencies. Then, 21 other plots of oil palm plantation land covering 137,626.01 hectares in Bengkayang Regency and Sambas Regency, West Kalimantan.

The assets come from nine corporations, seven of which have been handed over to the public prosecutor as suspects and evidence. The other two corporations are still under investigation.

"Regarding the management status, later Agrinas will take care of this (asset). Of course everything is backed up, which is allowed, which is not legally. For the financial system, maybe later the Ministry of SOEs will provide guidance, besides the witness is directly with the Head of BPKP (Financial and Development Supervisory Agency) who guarantees its accountability," he said.

Chief of General Staff (Kasum) TNI Lt. Gen. TNI Richard Tampubolon, met at the same event, confirmed that military members who are members of the Forest Area Control Task Force (Satgas PKH) will provide assistance in guarding the plantation assets. This is in accordance with the direction of Presidential Regulation Number 5 of 2025 concerning Forest Area Control.

"We will continue to work together so that Agrinas can run well; production is maintained; employee welfare, the community, the environment can also improve; and of course this can also be beneficial for the state to use for the welfare of the community," he said.