Commemoration of “Big Bad Biomass International Day” in Pontianak: Biomass is a False Solution for Energy Transition and Risks Seizing Land from the People

PONTIANAK – Several civil society organizations and students, united in the “Coalition for Just Energy Transition,” commemorated Big Bad Biomass International Day with a peaceful action at the Digulis Monument roundabout at Tanjungpura University and the West Kalimantan Governor’s Office on Monday (21/10/2024).

This action was motivated by government policies related to the use of biomass, particularly wood, in energy transition projects. Energy transition is the process of shifting from fossil fuel-based energy sources like coal to clean, environmentally friendly energy with minimal emissions. This transition is part of an “Energy Diversification” strategy within the energy policies and programs of many countries, especially since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015, which was reaffirmed at the G20 Bali Summit in 2022.

Indonesia has become one of the countries committed to reducing carbon emissions through the development of clean energy. To support this energy project, the Indonesian government has issued policies in several sectors, including energy and forestry. In the energy sector, through the Presidential Regulation No. 79 of 2014, the National Energy Policy (KEN) was established, which was then updated in 2024, designating biomass as one of the renewable energy sources to be promoted in the national energy mix until 2040. It’s utilization is even above solar, wind, and hydropower. Presidential Regulation No. 22 of 2017 on the National Energy General Plan (RUEN) also mandates that electricity providers purchase electricity from biomass power plants (PLTBm) and encourages the development of at least one PLTBm in each province.

The supply of wood biomass will be facilitated through the Business Licensing for Forest Utilization – Plantation Forests (PBPH-HT), regulated under Government Regulation No. 23 of 2021 on multi-business licensing in the forestry sector. Additionally, through Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. 7 of 2021, conversion production forest areas are reserved for energy security, including for Energy Plantation Forests.

According to the Decree of the Minister of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia No. SK.733/Menhut-II/2014 concerning Forest Areas and Water Conservation in West Kalimantan Province, the total area of state forest in West Kalimantan is 8,389,600 Ha or 57.15% of its total area. Of this forest area, 4,457,681 hectares or 53.13% is production forest, consisting of Limited Production Forest (HPT) covering 2,132,398 Ha, Production Forest (HP) covering 2,127,365 Ha, and Convertible Production Forest (HPK) covering 197,918 Ha. This means that there is a threat from energy projects to natural forests in the function of HPK.

As of 2022, there were at least 68 PBPH permits covering 2,767,488 hectares, making it the largest PBPH concession area in Indonesia. In fact, under the optimization plan for energy transition policies through biomass development, several coal-fired power plants in West Kalimantan, including at least seven such as the Parit Baru Site Bengkayang 01 and Ketapang 01, can be developed under a Co-Firing program.

Ahmad Syukri, the Head of the Advocacy and Research Circle (Link-AR) Borneo, stated that the current energy transition projects have the potential to create wider environmental and social crises, where communities becoming the party who nearly always have to bear the brunt of all negative social, economic, and environmental impacts.

According to Ahmad Syukri, the practice of development policies and the development of industrial plantation forest in Indonesia, including in West Kalimantan, often lead to land grabbing and recurring land tenure disputes with local communities. In many areas of West Kalimantan, the communities affected by concession grants and industrial plantation operations are indigenous peoples. For them, land and forests with all their resources are a source of livelihood passed down through generations.

On the other hand, the expansion of HTI/HTE concession permits will inevitably encourage the opening of forest cover, or the rate of deforestation and land degradation will be much more intensive and widespread. As a result, the target for carbon emission reduction through the REDD scheme is at risk of failing. This also threatens the structure and function of forest ecosystems and habitats, including endangering several rare species, such as the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus). Furthermore, biomass burning will produce air pollution that can jeopardize public health.

In the document of Indonesia’s Forestry and Other Land Uses (FoLU) Net Sink 2030 Operational Plan, which is aligned with the Enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (ENDC) targets, developing new plantation forests, including HTE, is needed to achieve the Net Sink 2030 target, requiring up to 6 million hectares.

Data from Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI) indicates that the development of Energy Plantation Forests (HTE) for biomass wood projects will create new problems, as the potential deforestation from HTE development is massive. The total potential area for HTE in Indonesia reaches 1.29 million hectares. A total of 31 business units have committed to developing HTE. In West Kalimantan, at least seven corporations have received permits to develop HTE.

The seven companies are PT. Muara Sungai Landak (MSL) with a concession area of 13,000 Ha in Mempawah, PT. Hutan Ketapang Industri with a concession area of 100,150 Ha in Ketapang, PT. Gambaru Selaras Alam with a concession area of 20,445 Ha in Sanggau, PT. Inhutani III Nanga Pinoh with a concession area of 119,080 Ha in Melawi, PT. Bhatara Alam Lestari with a concession area of 7,100 Ha in Mempawah, PT. Nityasa Idola with a concession area of 113,196 Ha in Sanggau, and PT. Daya Tani Kalbar with a concession area of 56,060 Ha in Ketapang.

Campaign Manager for Bioenergy Trend Asia, Amalya Reza Oktaviani, stated that the Indonesian government often expresses its commitment for energy transition but prioritizes false solutions. “The large-scale development of biomass industries through HTE in West Kalimantan will only result in even worse climate crisis. There are still 56,372 hectares of natural forests within the seven HTE concessions in West Kalimantan. If these remaining natural forests are cleared for energy crops, the potential carbon emissions could reach 36.5 million tons. This is in addition to emissions from biomass combustion in PLTBm. The West Kalimantan regional government should reconsider its renewable energy development plans in West Kalimantan, and seek truly renewable energy sources that are also just for the people.”

West Kalimantan is one of the provinces with the largest deforestation mitigation target for natural forests, totaling 917,000 Ha. Meanwhile, if West Kalimantan is designated as a center for biomass development, the potential loss of natural forests will be significant.