Carbon emission reduction scenario in palm oil production

The palm oil industry has an excellent opportunity to contribute to achieving the emission reduction targets set in the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). This research offers a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission mitigation scenario model that can be used for oil palm companies. The study was conducted from November 2023 to July 2024 in oil palm plantations in Siak Regency, Riau Province. Carbon emissions were calculated using the RSPO GHG Calculator, focusing on operational activities. The carbon reduction scenario is developed based on several factors, such as carbon emission structure, cost of reduction initiative, and its effect on productivity. The total of GHG emissions generated from palm oil production was recorded to be 111,780 tCO2-eq/year, in which the biggest source of emissions comes from peatland cultivation, followed by Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME), agronomic activities such as fertiliser application, and fossil fuel combustion. The establishment of Methane Capture plays a key role in the carbon reduction scenario. Mitigation scenario by establishing a methane capture (MC), combined with peatland rewetting, and application of B30 is expected to significantly reduce GHG emissions up to 37.12%, while still maintaining crop productivity.