National downstream palm oil initiatives are entering a more strategic and sustainable era. The visit by the Minister of National Development Planning (PPN)/Head of Bappenas, Prof. Dr. Ir. H. Rachmat Pambudy, MS, to the Steamless Palm Oil Technology (SPOT) Teaching Plant at INSTIPER Yogyakarta on Saturday, September 5, 2026, marks a major milestone in transforming Indonesia’s agricultural sector from upstream to downstream.
While reviewing the facility firsthand, the Minister expressed his appreciation after witnessing the efficiency of the innovative processing technology developed by Agro Investama Group. “I’ve been tasked by the President for months without finding the answer. Today, I found it,” he remarked. He further emphasized that the mandate for palm oil downstreaming must begin with upstream improvements to ensure the process becomes more efficient, resource-conserving, and environmentally friendly.
During the visit, Agro Investama Group CEO Petrus Tjandra explained that SPOT is engineered to disrupt conventional palm oil processing methods. By processing loose fruitlets while leaving the empty fruit bunches behind in the plantation as organic fertilizer, the plant eliminates the need for high-pressure steam sterilizer stations. “By eliminating the sterilizer station, this plant will have low water consumption and will not produce palm oil mill effluent,” Petrus Tjandra explained. This absence of liquid waste directly contributes to a low carbon footprint while preserving vital nutrients such as Vitamins A and E.
Recognizing this immense potential, the Minister of PPN announced plans to declare a new concept for palm oil produced through more efficient and lower-impact production processes, anchored on the principles of low water consumption, low energy consumption, low carbon emission, and high nutrient retention.
For all of us at Agro Investama Group, this breakthrough aligns with our corporate commitment to fostering a modern agricultural ecosystem—one that balances high productivity with strict environmental stewardship and resource efficiency to strengthen the global competitiveness of Indonesia’s palm oil industry.
Facebook
Instagram
Tiktok
Linkedin