JAKARTA - Indonesia has great potential to increase the downstreaming of essential oils, supported by the availability of domestic raw materials. Therefore, strategic policies are needed to spur innovation of derivative products from essential oils so that they can be utilized by the wider community.
"Indonesia has as many as 40 types of essential plants from 99 types of essential plants in the world. This is an opportunity to increase the added value of domestic raw materials through the role of the downstream essential oil industry (IHMA),” said Plt. Director General of Agro Industry, Ministry of Industry, Putu Juli Ardika in Jakarta, Thursday (9/12).
Plt. The Director General of Agro Industry stated that currently the IHMA sector has been able to process essential oils, especially citronella oil, which can be used as biodiesel fuel oil (BBM) diesel or gasoline. In addition to creating multiple added values, these efforts also support import substitution policies for fuel.
Putu said the benefits of the working mechanism of the bio additive fuel product include increasing the efficiency of engine combustion performance, capturing associated water, increasing the octane or cetane number in conventional fuel, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Essential oils have been used as industrial raw materials for essences, flavors and fragrances. The total production of Indonesia's main essential oils reaches 8,500 tons in 2020. Several types of Indonesian tropical essential oils include clove oil, citronella, patchouli, nutmeg, vetiver, and eucalyptus. (LM)