JAKARTA – The publicly listed plantation company PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk (AALI) has planned to reach net zero emission under its long term plan which is in line with the government plan to realize the net zero emission in 2060.
Santosa, President Director of Astra Agro Lestari said that internal team of Astra Agro is currently working on the plan to realize the target. “But we hope that the net zero emission in Astra Agro Lestari can be realized faster than the target set by the government in 2060,” he said.
Santosa said that there are a number of big programs that will be implemented by Astra Agro to transform its business process into more eco-friendly business operations. “One way to realize it will be through the use of energy sources that emit less carbon,” he said.
According to him, Astra Agro will evaluate the use of technology for the purpose of minimizing the emission. “We can possibly use methane capture or solar panel, or other renewable energy sources. We’re now assessing all of the possibilities to find out their potential and how much capital expenditure (capex) needed for development,” Santosa said during a virtual media gathering on Tuesday, 15 February 2022.
In addition to that, Astra Agro will also implement reforestation program in a number of unproductive critical lands, both inside and outside of its concessions. AALI will implement the program under cooperation with the ministry of environment and forestry, strategic partners, and local people living around its operational areas.
In terms of sustainability, Astra Agro Lestari will keep encouraging the oil palm smallholders, who supply fresh fruit bunches (FFB) to the company, to get the certificate of Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO). “Hopefully, our partners will implement the good agricultural practices which are in line with the principles of sustainability,” he said.
Santosa noted that such green efforts will take time. Astra Agro will provide technical and financial assistances under existing packages, as the partners contribute significantly to the production capability of the company amid the implementation of moratorium policy by the government to stop new licenses of oil palm plantations since 2018. (*)
Source: KONTAN.CO.ID
