UMSU and Japan’s Nagaoka University of Technology (NUT) continued their collaboration on renewable energy research by visiting the plantations and palm oil mills owned by Adolina and PTPN4 in Serdang Bedagai Tuesday (17/5).
This visit was also attended by several CEOs and President Directors of companies based in Japan, namely PT Osaka Oil, HKGP Co Ltd, Green Eco Energy Asset Management Co. Ltd, ITBS Co, Matsuo Matsuda, PT Gistec Prima, Japan Halal Promotion Organization, PT Primanusa Energi Lestari and accompanied by the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo.
During the visit, UMSU was represented by Vice Rector III Dr. Rudianto.M.Si together with the Head of International Cooperation and Affairs (LK-UI) Rafikah.S.Sos.M.IP, the Head of Research and Community Service Department (LP2M) Syaiful Amri Saragih M.Sc, Deputy Dean I of the Faculty of Agriculture Assoc Prof. Dr. Wan Arfiani Barus and several research lecturers. Meanwhile, from NUT, Prof. Takaomi Kobayasi, researcher and Dean of the Faculty of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Plantation Unit Manager Adolina Ihsan representing PTPN 4, welcomed the group and explained the business processes being carried out, from plantation management to processing Crude Palm Oil (CPO) at the Adolina palm oil mill. The group was allowed to see the Adolina PKS, processing palm seeds to become CPO, and the waste processing process from tankos to shells.
Plantation Manager Adolina Ihsan admitted that she was pleased with the visit of UMSU and NUT, especially with the presence of CEOs from leading companies in Japan.
Vice Rector III UMSU, Dr. Rudianto.M.Si, in his speech, said that the collaboration between UMSU and NUT was supported by leading companies from Japan thanks to the support of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo. UMSU so far considers PTPN 4 as a strategic partner in research and education, so the group needs to visit. Especially PTPN 4, a large BUMN with plantation and oil palm assets in North Sumatra. There is potential for research on renewable energy based on palm oil waste technology from Japan that requires PTPN 4 support.
On that occasion, Prof. Kobayasi and his entourage seemed enthusiastic by asking various questions related to palm oil processing and the utilization of their waste in the management of the Adolina factory and plantation. They are very interested in PTPN 4’s efforts in utilizing palm oil waste to process the PKS energy that can generate electricity. According to them, this potential is to be developed in Indonesia, especially North Sumatra, because it has abundant resources and raw materials for palm oil waste.
