THE government is planning to enact Presidential Regulation (Perpres) in trying to strengthen implementation of the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO).

CONGRATULATIONS are probably due more to PT Pertamina (Persero) that has succeeded tested co-processing to convert palm oil into green gasoline.

MINISTRY of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) has announced biofuel Market Price Index (MPI), included biodiesel and bioethanol, for period of January 2019. The announcement is stated on letter issued by Directorate General of New Energy, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation at MEMR number 5966/12/DJE/2018 dated 18 December 2018. Biodiesel MPI for January 2019 is set at Rp6,371 per liter, lower than price for December at Rp6.589.

INDIA\'S plan to cut import tariff of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) from Indonesia and Malaysia has given positive sentiment to CPO future trade on optimism that India, the world\'s biggest buyer of the commodity, will increase imports. CNBC Indonesia reported, CPO futures prices for March 2019 contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives, Friday (28/12/2018) climbed 0.67% to MYR 2.119 at afternoon trade.

PT Pertamina (Persero) has succeeded in converting palm oil into green fuels and LPG at Plaju refinery in South Sumatera.

BANDUNG Institute of Technology (ITB) collaborated with PT Pertamina (Persero) are developing catalyst to convert palm oil into green avtur.

MINISTRY of Energy and Mineral Resources has announced Biofuel Market Price Index (MPI), included biodiesel and bioethanol for period of January 2019 and it goes into effect on 1 January 2019. [googlepdf url=\`http://www.bpdp.or.id/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Besaran-HIP-Bulan-Januari-2019-CAP.pdf\` download=\`Download\` width=\`600\` height=\`800\`]

CHINA\'S policy to cut import tariff on soybean, canola, and sun flower will not adversely affect palm oil import from Indonesia, given the fact that the commodities are mostly used for animal feed. "The policy is mainly for products of soybean, canola, and sun flower that are often used for animal feed so that it will not affect significantly Indonesian palm oil export," Executive Director of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) Mukti Sardjono, Wednesday (26/12/2018) as reported by Sawit Indonesia. As reported earlier by South China Morning Post, (26/12/2018), China will cut import tariff on more than 700 products, not included palm oil, starting from 1 January 2019.

The government deems it necessary to communicate with India to maintain Indonesian palm oil export to the country.

China will lower import taxes on more than 700 goods from January 1 in another round of tariff cuts as part of its efforts to open up the economy and lower costs for domestic consumers. There will also be cuts to some export tariffs, and temporary import tariff rates will be as low as zero for some goods, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement on Monday. The temporary rates can be changed ad hoc and can be lower than the current Most-favoured nations (MFN) standard, although they are also available to all World Trade Organisation members. This is the third round of tariff cuts announced this year as China looks to cut costs for consumers and implement President Xi Jinping\'s promises to open up further. US exports will receive the benefit of the reductions as well, although most products will still be subject to the retaliatory tariffs until there is a breakthrough in the ongoing talks. With tariffs on US soybeans stopping a key source of edible meal often used for animal feed, China will implement zero tariffs on imports of a variety of meals including sunflower and canola.

FACULTY of Agriculture Technology at Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) has introduced NPK fertilization recommendation system for palm oil via satellite, named Precipalm.

PALM oil stakeholders made recommendation for the government to revamp regulations and permits in palm oil sector, given the fact that there are many overlapping regulations at local level hampering palm oil development. Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) for Organization Affairs Kacuk Sumarto said there are a number of regulations handled at local level that need to revamp.