Southeast Asian consortium launches pilot project in Indonesia to evaluate pongamia as biofuel feedstock

A consortium of Southeast Asian companies has launched a pilot project in Indonesia to cultivate pongamia and evaluate its viability as a biofuel feedstock, marine fuels technology platform ENGINE reported.

The five-year project to run from 2026-2031 in Tapin Regency, South Kalimantan, would cover approximately 10ha of land reclaimed from a former coal mine, the 17 April report said.

As part of the initiative, the consortium would conduct technical assessments, including cultivation trials and growth monitoring, ENGINE wrote.

Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency and a Japanese university would provide cultivation expertise, the report said.

The consortium would also assess the wider biofuel feedstock supply chain, explore the feasibility of repurposing former mining land and identify barriers to large-scale commercialisation.

Participants in the initiative included Japanese shipping major Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), Indonesian conglomerate Hasnur Group, general trading firm Hanwa, food company NH Foods, biofuels producer Four Pride and capital firm SPIL Ventures.

The initiative reflected a wider industry push to diversify feedstock sources beyond conventional options such as used cooking oil (UCO), ENGINE wrote.

This article has been republished from Oils & Fats International.