IIndonesia Unhappy with EU Plans to Ban Palm Oil Biofuels

Jakarta, MINA – The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has criticized the European Union for backing a ban on the use of palm oil in biofuels, calling it a protectionist move.

“Indonesia deplores the decision taken by the European Parliament to phase out the use of palm oil in biodiesel,” Antara News quoted spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Arrmanatha Nasir as saying in a press briefing on Friday.

Nasir noted the move from the European Union clearly indicated that there was a campaign against palm oil products.

“This is a protectionist and discriminatory move that claims palm oil is unsustainable,” pointed out Nasir.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi will once again convey to her European counterparts Indonesia`s stance on the palm oil industry, Nasir emphasized.

The EU Parliament on Wednesday decided to phase out palm oil by 2021 and cap crop-based biofuels at the member states` 2017 consumption levels and at seven percent of all transport fuels until 2030.

European lawmakers approved draft measures to reform the power market and reduce energy consumption to meet more ambitious climate goals. The plan includes a ban on the use of palm oil in motor fuels from 2021.

Indonesia, meanwhile, is the world`s largest exporter of palm oil. The palm oil industry employs some 17 million people in Indonesia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is of the view that the European Union`s decision is not in accordance with the global effort toward sustainable energy diversification and might disrupt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals, especially with regard to poverty eradication, Nasir added.

The rules, endorsed by the European Union on Wednesday, are not final. The European Parliament, the executive European Commission, and the EU national governments must now negotiate a final draft of the legislation and approve it. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency MINA)