Lampung Governor Sjachroedin Z.P. said that with the combined energy from bioethanol, white sugar and tapioca factories operating in the province, Lampung could produce between 50 and 75 MW of electricity.
“It’s equivalent to the output from a hydroelectric power plant,” said Sjachroedin.
“On average, each ranch has more than 20,000 cows. If the combined waste is processed into biogas and used to produce electricity, it can reduce our dependence for electricity from PLN,” added Sjachroedin.
Dayan Antoni, the president director of one of the ranches, PT Santosa Agrindo (Santori), said his company had built a biogas reactor (Covered In Ground Anaerobic Reactor, or CIGAR) in Bekri, Central Lampung, which could produce a megawatt of electricity.
“We haven’t been able to share the electricity we produce with the community because we are waiting on the results of negotiations with PLN,” said Antoni.
“It’s on a small scale now, but if every company producing biogas did what we do, I’m sure it will benefit the surrounding communities, especially since many of the regions here don’t have access to electricity,” added Antoni.
