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Indonesia: the biofuel blowback



Europe needs to lessen its dependence on fossil fuels in order to reduce carbon emissions. The European Union's target, set in March 2007, is to replace at least 10% of its transport fossil fuel with biofuels by 2020.


Indonesia has embarked on a headlong rush to grow more palm oil. It is set to overtake Malaysia in 2007 and become the world's largest producer. The two countries aim to supply 20% of Europe's biofuels by 2009.


Masters no more



"I used to feed my family mainly from that land", Alexander complains, still clearly distraught more than a year later. "We had more than enough to eat. Now I have lost my land, I have to go to Malaysia to work as a construction worker so I can feed my three children. But my income is not enough compared to when I had my piece of land."

The company offered him compensation of $0.30 for each of his rubber trees. "The company has to pay me the right price", he says. "Deep in my heart I feel I don't want to let go of my land. But if I have to, they have to pay me."


In desperation, about 300 of them in April seized the company's bulldozer and trucks. The police intervened and gave the heavy equipment back.

Some of the villagers are now itching to step up the protests. They feel they are losing land owned by their ancestors without a fight. "Burn down the company offices", some shout. But others are more conciliatory, preferring to do a deal and grow palm oil to supply the company mill. They all agree they want to remain "masters of their own land".

Rich, powerful and secretive





In June 2007, about ten of them were arrested and questioned by the local police because they had been harvesting the company's palm oil on what they said was their land and selling it to another mill. They were released but say they will continue to harvest unless the company agrees to several demands.

"The essential problem is that local people are not told what is going on or about the potential risks and benefits of growing palm oil", says Norsianus, the advocacy coordinator for the SPKS, an NGO supporting the smallholders. "The companies are very rich, very powerful but not transparent."

The clearing game

It's virtually impossible to tell whether the palm oil harvested in these areas of West Kalimantan will end up in Europe as a biofuel. It's just as likely to be going to China, India or Pakistan. But NGOs inside and outside Indonesia are getting increasingly worried about the nationwide boom, and whether poor farmers can benefit.

They say the growing number of social conflicts is another, less publicised, downside to palm oil as an alternative to fossil fuels. A series of recent reports have already criticised it for compounding Indonesia's alarming rate of deforestation.




Global pressure, local landscape



A decisive meeting will take place in Kuala Lumpur on 20-22 November 2007 of the industry-led Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), whose members include manufacturers such as Nestlé and L'Oreal, retailers such as Carrefour and Marks & Spencer, and NGOs such as Oxfam and WWF.



Development workers fear that they may find it more difficult to meet new standards for sustainable palm oil. "Small producers need more land than two hectares each, no price-fixing by the companies and better credit terms", says Norsianus of the SPKS, "and then palm oil might help alleviate poverty."

Homepage photo by tianyake

James Painter is executive editor for the Americas at the BBC World Service, currently on sabbatical. In 2006-07 he was visiting fellow at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. He has reported and researched widely on Latin American politics, the global media landscape and climate-change issues.


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匿名 | Anonymous


棕榈油产出的是柴油．这种方式不能减少二氧化碳的排放．一台柴油发动机产生的二氧化碳的量主要是看是看的负荷．一个两兆瓦的柴油发动机一个小时大约使用３５０升柴油T．一辆同样马力的卡车的效率不会那么高因为车的速度不停在变．一升柴油的二氧化碳排放量＝695克 x 0.99 x (44/12) = 2,522.85克.这一计算是根据石油生产的柴油完成的，由棕榈油生产出的柴油的二氧化碳排放量还要高一些．因为柴油大多用于农业，收割或者是运输．哦，我差点忘了，这种方式生产出的柴油每升几乎要贵两倍．所以棕榈油的生产只是那些石油公司的业务和利润，和减少二氧化碳的排放毫无关系． John McGhie

How does this save CO2?

Palm oil makes diesel fuel. How does THAT save carbon-dioxide emissions?

It doesn't. The amount of CO2 a diesel engine produces is dependant almost entirely on the load on it: a two megawatt diesel generator will use around 350 litres an hour. A truck motor of the same power won't be quite as efficient because it operates at variable speeds.

CO2 emissions from a litre of diesel = 695 grams x 0.99 x (44/12) = 2,522.85 grams.

Diesel made from palm oil will produce slightly more CO2 than the above calculation based on diesel from fossil oil. Because diesel fuel is used extensively in agriculture and transport to harvest it.

Oh, and did I forget? It will cost nearly twice as much per litre.

So palm oil production is all about keeping oil companies in business, not reducing CO2.

John McGhie

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匿名 | Anonymous


William JING

Reducing carbon dioxide

Palm trees can absorb carbon dioxide from the air. Let’s assume the absorption amount of carbon dioxide at one ton which equals the amount of carbon dioxide from burning of organic materials. It means that the planting and burning processes haven’t increase the carbon dioxide. But burning of fossil fuel will produce net increase. The biggest problem from biofuel burning is that growing the plants release great amount of carbon dioxide which is stronger greenhouse gas.

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匿名 | Anonymous



Environmental Protection

The Earth is where we live. We must cherish our home, reduce pollution as much as possible, and promote going Green! Come on!!