Indonesia, S Korea to develop biofuel from seaweed

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia, represented by the ministry of fishery and marine resources, will cooperate with the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) to develop biofuel from seaweed.

The spokesman of the Indonesian fishery and marine resources, Soen`an Hadi Poernomo, said here on Monday Indonesia had chosen South Korea because the latter has had the technology for processing seaweed into an energy source.

"That country`s need for energy is large but its supply of natural resources namely seaweed is small," he said.

Indonesia meanwhile with its long coastal line and warm climate all year long has an abundant supply of seaweed for making the biofuel. The country however has not had the technology to process it into a fuel source and therefore needs a partner for mid-term and long-term benefit.

He said the seaweed that would be exploited for the development of the biofuel was the Geladine variety currently being cultivated in Maluku, East Belitung and Lombok.

He said the price of biodiese is still quite high ar around US$2 per litre but in the next three years following the exploitation of the seaweed the price was expected to fall to US$1 per litre.

Soen`an did not tell when the project would be realized but at the end of this year the South Korean president would come to the country. "We hope the president of KITECH would also come here to further discuss the cooperation," he said.