Palm oil export from Indonesia on August 2018 climbed to the highest ever this year to record 3.3 million tons from 3.22 million tons in Juli 2018. The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) released the data, Monday, (1/10/2018).

Indonesia\'s Palm Oil Output in August 2018 has declined 5% due to weather and farmers production pattern.

The government is setting up a mechanism of sanctions for companies that fail to meet their commitment on implementing the expanded B20 mandatory program.

The government is working with the National Police (Polri) to discuss the use of B20 on primary weaponry systems used by Polri. \`We have invited Polri to discuss it.

STARTING from October 2018, the government will punish companies that fail to distribute or mix B20.

THE European Union (EU) welcomed President Joko Widodo\'s instruction to halt the issuing of permits for palm plantations, calling it a much welcomed step toward sustainable development. The EU Ambassador to Indonesia Vincent Guerend said in a statement on Thursday (27/9/2018), concerning a venue of stakeholders to consider the extent to which palm oil growth has underpinned socio-economic development. \`To the extent that palm oil can be beneficial to the people and the planet, it is and will remain a key commodity for global companies and consumers.

THINGS are looking great for oil palm smallholder farmers in Bangka Belitung Islands, following the price agreements between farmers, manufacturers, and government.

The MINISTRY of energy and Mineral Resources ensured that all fuel companies, disregarding PT Pertamina (Persero), have been distributing fuel with 20 percent biodiesel content (B20). \`Except Pertamina, all fuel businesses stop selling B0, they are selling B20 now," Director General of Oil and Gas at Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Djoko Siswanto said in Jakarta, Friday (28/9/2018) as quoted by CNN Indonesia. Concerning distribution of Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME), the raw material of which is crude palm oil, Djoko confirmed that FAME has yet to be supplied to some fuel terminals.

The European Union (EU) is ready to work with Indonesia on how existing certification schemes could be further strengthened and promoted. On its Fact Sheet published on 20 September 2018, the EU suggested that to be fully inclusive, a future \`sustainable Palm Oil solution\` does not have to put the burden of certification on individual \`small farmers".

Palm oil has been getting much attention as many products can be generated from oil palm trees.

A COORDINATION meeting to discuss implementation of expanded B20 mandatory program was again held in Jakarta, Friday (28/9/2018). The meeting chaired by Economic Coordinating Minister Darmin Nasution evaluated update issues concerning implementation of expanded B20 mandatory program that had been discussed a day earlier. Attendees at the meeting included officials from National Police (Polri), Directorate of Oil and Gas of Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, and the Indonesian Oil Palm Estate Fund (BPDPKS).

THE Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry\'s Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Director General, Rida Mulyana reiterated his view that the problem that delay the implementation of expanded B20 mandatory policy is merely a technical problem and is nothing to do with the regulation. Rida acknowledged that Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME), the raw material of which is crude palm oil, has yet to be supplied to some fuel terminals in eastern part of Indonesia, such as in Nusa Tenggara Timur, Maluku, Papua, and Sulawesi. "The problem is merely operational matter because of a lack of ships to distribute FAME.