Ministry Launches Pilot Project on Carbon Capture to Support Net Zero Emissions
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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — The Ministry of Industry has launched a pilot project using carbon capture technology at PT Petrokimia Gresik to support Indonesia’s net zero emissions, or NZE, target. The initiative, unveiled on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, at the Annual Indonesia Green Industry Summit, or AIGIS, in Jakarta, marked a milestone in the country’s push toward greener industrial practices.
Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said the program was part of broader efforts to transform industry through energy efficiency, renewable energy use, and low-carbon technology adoption.
“For emissions that cannot be fully eliminated, additional solutions such as Carbon Capture Utilization (CCU) are required. This technology can capture and repurpose carbon from production processes. We are now running a hydrometallurgical CCU pilot project at PT Petrokimia Gresik,” he said.
The project is designed to capture up to 65 percent of carbon dioxide from industrial exhaust and convert it into soda ash and baking soda, which are commercially valuable and heavily imported by Indonesia. “This technology not only supports the net zero target but also adds economic value,” Agus added.
Beyond CCU, the ministry is exploring the potential of microalgae as a carbon capture solution. Microalgae absorb CO₂ as a nutrient source and can be processed into biomass, green hydrogen, and raw materials for cosmetics. “Microalgae offer high value-added downstream opportunities while contributing to emission reduction,” Agus said.
The CCU technology was developed by UWin Resources Regeneration Inc., led by Chief Scientist Professor Kenny Hsu. The company holds patents in several countries. Its laboratory prototype was officially tested by TÜV Rheinland Taiwan, which verified emission reduction levels exceeding 99 percent.
Building on those results, the Ministry of Industry, UWin Resources, and PT Petrokimia Gresik signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Jakarta on Jan. 22, 2025, to advance the pilot project at an industrial scale.
Currently underway at Petrokimia Gresik’s production facility, the pilot project is expected to deliver data on CO₂ absorption within the next two months. The findings are projected to contribute significantly to Indonesia’s 2050 net zero target while strengthening the circular economy through byproducts such as soda ash and baking soda.
“This pilot project has the potential to capture 65 percent or more of industrial exhaust CO₂ and convert it into commercial products of economic value, thereby providing added benefits and reinforcing the resilience of national industry,” said Kenny Hsu.
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