The Express Tribune (22/12/2020) - Domestic and foreign investors have started showing interest in oil palm farming following satisfactory results from trial production of the oil palm fruit in Thatta.

Besides a domestic edible oil company, a delegation of local traders and the Malaysian embassy visited a 50-acre oil palm fruit orchard in Kathore, Thatta to assess quality of the fruit and suitability of soil.

The delegation along with Sindh Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development (ECCCD) Secretary Muhammad Aslam Ghauri also visited a palm oil producing mill set up by the provincial government and inspected its production process, said an ECCCD spokesperson on Monday.

“Expressing satisfaction over the quality and production environment in the region, officials were of the view that it provided excellent investment opportunities for oil palm cultivation and palm oil production, which should be fully utilised by the global and local business communities,” he said.

On the occasion, the secretary told the delegation that Sindh had crossed an important milestone through successful experimentation with oil palm cultivation.

He said that the project would play a key role in prosperity of Pakistan and meet domestic demand for palm oil to a great extent.

Read more at https://tribune.com.pk/story/2276889/oil-palm-farming-attracts-investors

Indonesia to allocate 9.2 mln kilolitres of biodiesel next year - ministry

Successful Farming (22/12/2020) - SINGAPORE, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Indonesia is back on track to allocate 9.2 million kilolitres of unblended biodiesel to companies next year as originally planned, the energy ministry said on Tuesday.

The announcement comes a week after an official from the National Energy Council said the country may have to lower its biodiesel - palm oil biofuel - allocation next year to 8.5 million kilolitres due to an uncertain fuel consumption outlook due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Indonesian government requires its diesel to be blended with 30% biocontent made out of palm oil, aiming to be less dependent on fuel imports and sop up palm supply. It sets output targets, subsidises the price difference between palm and crude oil and allocates the product to 20 biofuel companies.

However a slump in fuel prices this year has made the programme less economical, and plans to increase the biocontent to 40% have been delayed due to funding issues.

Indonesia is expected to distribute only 8.5 million kilolitres of biodiesel this year, compared with the 9.6 million originally planned, according to the government. (Reporting by Fathin Ungku and Bernadette Christina Munthe; Editing by Pravin Char)

Read more at https://www.agriculture.com/markets/newswire/indonesia-to-allocate-92-mln-kilolitres-of-biodiesel-next-year-ministry