The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us a valuable lesson that we need an appropriate energy stock for our national energy security. The transportation sector's reliance on imported energy sources will become a burden and a weakness for the country's energy security under conditions of large-scale social restrictions (Indonesian: Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar or PSBB). In this situation, renewable energy may offer a way to lessen reliance on the country's supply of fuel for both transportation and electricity. The potential for biomass development makes it one of the renewable energy sources.

The majority of Indonesia is home to various biomass sources, including corn cobs, rice husks, and wood waste. In a larger sense, production forests that are transformed into energy forests can serve as a source of biomass. From a technological standpoint, there are a variety of bio pellet generators on the market that can convert biomass into energy. Many regions currently employ biomass power plants (PLTBm) for their own purposes, particularly Crude Palm Oil (CPO) producers that use the biomass made from palm oil.

Sources of biomass can come from wood residues, rice husks, corn cobs, and others which are found in almost all of Indonesia. In a broader context, the source of biomass can come from production forests that are converted into energy forests. From a technological perspective, the conversion of biomass into bio pellets for power generation is available in the market with various efficiencies. Currently, many regions have used PLTBm for their own interests, especially CPO producers from the biomass produced from palm oil.

The cost of biomass energy products such as bio pellets (for domestic and export purposes) and their direct use as a source of electrical energy which is still relatively expensive compared to coal are some of the obstacles encountered in the development of biomass for energy. Likewise, fiscal, and non-fiscal support in the development of biomass for energy is still not optimal. Biomass development has the potential to become new jobs for the community, especially in the regions. Creating jobs for local people in the energy sector is one of the most promising economic breakthroughs in various regions in Indonesia. Utilization of biomass as an energy source also supports the achievement of the target of reducing Indonesia's greenhouse gas emissions by 29% by 2030 without sacrificing economic growth and improving the people's economy.

Institute for Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Management (IREEM) in collaboration with the Natural Resources and Environment Management Alumni Association, Institute Pertanian Bogor held an online Focus Group Discussion (FGD) entitled "Accelerating Biomass Utilization for Energy and Regional Economic Empowerment". The FGD event was attended by around 100 participants from various agencies, including the government, private sector, universities and the community, which was scheduled for Thursday, April 30 2020, at 14:00 WIB, and will be held online via the Zoom video conference application. The four speakers who gave presentations during the event included:

1.      Ir. Sutijastoto – Director General of The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources;

2.      Ir. Hudoyo – Expert Staff to The Minister of Environment and Forestry;

3.      Ir. Purwadi Soeprihantro – Executive Director of the Association of Indonesian Forest Entrepreneurs;

4.      Prof. Dr. Ir. Armansyah Tambunan – Professor of IPB.