Belawan, August 16, 2025 – For the first time in history, PT PLN (Persero) has operated co-firing of Bio Compressed Natural Gas (BioCNG) using palm oil waste as fuel at the Belawan Steam-Fired Power Plant (PLTGU) in North Sumatra. This clean energy innovation also serves as a gift to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia's Independence Day.

This initial use of renewable energy marks a significant milestone in diversifying environmentally friendly energy sources, while also strengthening PLN's commitment to achieving Net Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2060 or sooner.

The Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Eniya Listiani Dewi, who was present at the inauguration, appreciated PLN's steps in presenting the first BioCNG innovation in Indonesia.

"I truly appreciate this first BioCNG co-firing in Indonesia as an effort to develop new and renewable energy (NRE) in the power generation sector. This will enhance the renewable energy mix, especially in North Sumatra," Eniya said in her remarks on Thursday (August 14).

Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Eniya Listiani Dewi, expressed her appreciation to PLN for its first BioCNG innovation in Indonesia, which is expected to increase the renewable energy mix.

PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo emphasized that PLN will continue to optimize local potential to provide clean energy solutions.

"By utilizing new and renewable energy, we are not only providing environmentally friendly electricity, but also strengthening energy sovereignty while simultaneously driving the economy, creating new jobs, and helping alleviate poverty," Darmawan said.

The BioCNG used at the Belawan Combined Cycle Power Plant (PLTGU) is produced from palm oil mill effluent (POME). As the world's largest palm oil producer, Indonesia has significant potential to convert this waste into a sustainable, renewable energy source.

This utilization not only provides a more environmentally friendly and economically stable energy solution, but also provides direct benefits to the community, such as creating new jobs, increasing farmers' incomes, encouraging the growth of local processing industries, and reducing the impact of environmental pollution around plantation areas.

Meanwhile, PLN's Director of Technology, Engineering, and Sustainability, Evy Haryadi, revealed that the potential for clean electricity from BioCNG utilization in North Sumatra reaches 478 GWh per year.

"By integrating BioCNG as an alternative fuel, PLN has successfully reduced its dependence on fossil fuels and simultaneously utilized organic waste for clean energy. The use of BioCNG will contribute to the production of 478 GWh of clean electricity per year, fuel savings equivalent to IDR 48 billion per year, and a reduction in CO2 emissions of 80,000 tons per year," said Haryadi.

The Belawan Combined Cycle Power Plant (PLTGU) has an installed capacity of 1,184 MW and contributes 10.96% of the electricity supply in Sumatra and 30.75% in the Northern Sumatra region. By 2024, biomass co-firing at PLN power plants reached 854,000 MWh, and the target is to increase this with the use of BioCNG.

Through this initiative, PLN demonstrates its technological readiness and full commitment to accelerating the clean energy transition, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and developing sustainable renewable energy for Indonesia's future.

Contact Person:
Gregorius Adi Trianto,
Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications & TJSL PLN,
Tel. 021 7261122,
Facs. 021 7227059

A Glance at PLN
PT PLN (Persero) is a state-owned electricity company that continues to be committed and innovative in providing the best service for customers. PLN carries out the Transformation 2.0 agenda with a vision of becoming a Top 500 Global Company and becoming the number 1 choice for customers for Energy Solutions through business growth efforts, end-to-end digitalization implementation, carrying out energy transitions to support the achievement of Net Zero Emissions (NZE), and presenting business processes with world-class human resources.