Dissemination of Research Findings on Energy Plantation Forests (EPF) The Energy Transition is Consuming Forests: How Regulations Facilitate the Escalation of Agrarian Conflicts?

Jakarta, November 12, 2024 — The Strategic Litigation Desk of CELIOS successfully launched a study on Energy Plantation Forests (Hutan Tanaman Energi/HTE) during a research dissemination event titled “The Energy Transition Consumes Forests: How Regulations Facilitate the Acceleration of Agrarian Conflicts?” held in the second week of November 2024. The discussion featured Bhima Yudhistira (Executive Director of CELIOS), Mhd Zakiul Fikri (Legal Director of CELIOS), Muhammad Saleh (Legal Researcher at CELIOS), Anggi Putra Prayoga (Researcher at Forest Watch Indonesia), and Anita Delina (Representative from the Production Forest Management Unit of Central Kalimantan Province). Together, they explored various issues surrounding HTE in Indonesia, particularly for biomass purposes, and its impact on forest governance, regulatory capacity, land access, and agrarian reform in the forestry sector.

Bhima Yudhistira, Executive Director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS), stated that the high demand for co-firing in coal-fired power plants using wood pellets is driven not only by domestic needs but also for export, particularly to Japan. “The largest buyers of wood pellets from Indonesia in 2023 were Japan and South Korea, importing 10 million tons and 64 million tons respectively,” said Bhima.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Saleh, Legal Researcher at CELIOS, explained that the regulatory framework surrounding HTE is vulnerable. This refers to the gaps in regulations governing all aspects of HTE—from legislation to implementing rules—that can lead to various issues. For example, in the regulation of Multi-Business Forestry schemes, there is significant flexibility in monitoring concession holders, including in the processes of reporting, performance evaluation, and unresolved conflicts. This situation is further exacerbated by the government’s weak oversight capacity.

The report reveals that the large-scale expansion of HTE under the National Strategic Projects (PSN) poses serious risks to land tenure inequality and the potential for agrarian conflicts. Regulatory support, including Presidential Regulations No. 112/2022 and No. 70/2023, provides various incentives for concession holders to expand HTE areas—often without adequate consideration for social and environmental impacts.

Event Details

Dissemination of Research Findings on Energy Plantation Forests (EPF) The Energy Transition is Consuming Forests: How Regulations Facilitate the Escalation of Agrarian Conflicts?

CELIOS is an independent research institute committed to excellence, harnessing interdisciplinary expertise to tackle the climate crisis and dismantle systemic inequality.

CELIOS is an independent research institute committed to excellence, harnessing interdisciplinary expertise to tackle the climate crisis and dismantle systemic inequality.