Indonesia plans to ban molasses exports to support biofuel development
The Ministry of Industry is proposing a ban on its industry’s export of molasses, the raw material for ethanol, as a measure to support the development of alternative energy biofuel, Kompas reported.
‘I have submitted the export ban proposal to the Trade Ministry and Agriculture Ministry,’ the report quoted Industry Minister Fahmi Idris as saying.
The report said Indonesia’s ethanol output is approximately 170,000 kiloliters per annum, of which 27,000 tons are exported. The product has been used as a raw material for alcoholic drinks and drugs.
The report said ethanol can be processed into bioethanol, which can be mixed with premium gasoline. Other raw materials for biofuel are castor oil and crude palm oil (CPO), which can be processed into biodiesel.
