Rice Husk Briquettes Amid the Soaring Condition of Biomass Fuel Demand

 "Briquettes are a compressed biomass fuel (densified biomass fuel) as an alternative to pellets."

The use of biomass energy is increasing day by day so this is a positive thing that needs to be encouraged. The increase in coal prices (domestic industry is priced at $90) and the resulting pollution are especially the driving force for energy use from the biomass. Among biomass energy, wood pellets are the most popular and most widely used form of biomass fuel. The use of wood pellets is not only used by processing industries but also by power plants. A number of small and medium industries such as tofu factories, cracker factories, and so on. Wood chips, as a simpler form, are less attractive than wood pellets, even though they are cheaper. With a low density, the transportation costs are also high, besides that the moisture content of wood chips is sometimes also less controlled.

The form of briquettes is also less popular than wood pellets. Briquettes can also be said as an alternative to pellets. The technology for making briquettes is the same as wood pellets, namely biomass densification, the difference is that the size of the briquettes is larger than wood pellets. Unlike wood pellets, which only use roller press technology for their production, briquettes have several variants of technology for their production, for more details, read here. But in Indonesia there is only one type of briquette, namely the screw press. Indeed, in many ways briquetting is easier than pelletizing. Biomass materials that are difficult to pelletize are usually easy to briquette. Certain types of boilers may also be more suitable for briquettes, compared to wood pellets, read in more detail here. Therefore, the use of briquettes should also be encouraged.

In addition to wood waste, agricultural wastes are also potential biomass for fuel. Rice husk is an abundant agricultural waste because the staple food of Indonesians is rice. It is estimated that the amount of rice husk is 15 million tons/year. However, with the high content of ash and silica, this rice husk is less desirable to make pellets because it is abrasive, thus shortening the service life of machine components. Likewise for making briquettes, but with a variant of the mechanical press technology, the abrasive problem can be minimized. The production of rice husk briquettes with mechanical press technology can be a solution for the utilization of the rice husk waste. In the midst of the increasing use of biomass fuels, rice husk briquettes can be the next alternative.

Mining Sector and Post-Mining Reclamation

The photo is taken from here

Among the mining sector, coal is the largest mining product in Indonesia and even ranks third at the world level. In 2021 coal production was recorded at 576 million tons and it is projected that there will be only a slight decline in 2024, which is to 570 million tons. This coal is also the largest source of state income after Indonesia's oil can no longer be exported because production runs out for domestic consumption and even less so that it has to become an oil importer. But in the long term the future of coal is bleak as its use is increasingly restricted due to climate concerns. Countries that have ratified the Paris agreement have committed to reducing fossil fuels, especially coal with concrete steps, namely not building new coal power plants, cofiring with renewable energy at coal power plants, converting coal power plants into 100% biomass power plants (fulfiring) and closing a number of coal power plants and replace it with other renewable energy sources.

On the other hand, the post-mining activity also caused a lot of environmental damage, especially the land. Land damage will trigger natural disasters that endanger human life. Do not let the mining activities exploit its natural resources to the fullest but also leave natural damage that is no less severe. Of course this condition is very bad. The obligation of reclamation has also not been carried out properly, many even do not do it or just do it symbolically, imaging and mere formality while the purpose of reclamation itself is not achieved. The threat of a fine of 100 billion rupiah is also imposed for companies that ignore the reclamation to further encourage the reclamation activities.

According to Rizal Kasli, the general chairman of Perhapi (Indonesian Mining Experts Association), currently there are infrastructure and resource constraints (costs) in the implementation of the reclamation, namely for medium and small mining companies, for more details read here. This means that for large companies with large volumes of mining production there should be no obstacles, but stricter law enforcement is needed, according to Rizal Kasli. If large mining companies carry out reclamation properly, of course this is good and becomes an example for small and medium mining companies, but if the opposite happens, it will exacerbate environmental damage. Compensation or profit from the mining business should be in line and proportional to the improvement of the land or post-mining land (reclamation and rehabilitation).

The photo is taken from here

Why do a lot of mining companies generally ignore or neglect reclamation and post-mining land rehabilitation? In addition to the rules that are not strictly enforced, of course the problem is the cost. Mining companies have to spend a lot of money for the reclamation and rehabilitation of post-mining land, the costs depend on the conditions and the area of ​​the land. This of course burdens and reduces the profits of the mining company itself, causing reluctance. So even if reclamation and land rehabilitation are carried out, they are only symbolic, imaging and formality. This can be said to have no impact or achieve the goals of post-mining land reclamation and rehabilitation itself. 

Whereas the purpose of land reclamation and rehabilitation is one of the efforts to prepare fertile land for the future. So what if the reclamation turns out to be a profitable activity? This is certainly very interesting and motivating the mining companies. Bio-economy based reclamation and rehabilitation projects will be able to provide benefits for mining companies that do so. With these benefits, the land reclamation and rehabilitation program will be able to run well and sustainably, so that the entire post-mining area can be touched. We are currently developing a bioeconomic program for the post-mining land reclamation and rehabilitation, for more detailed information please contact us at cakbentra@gmail.com

Sheep-Palm Oil After Cow-Palm Oil

In 2050 the world's population is estimated to reach 9 billion people. The need for food, especially protein, will also definitely increase. With a human population of 9 billion, protein needs are estimated at 250 million tons per year or 50% more than today's protein production. Insects are strong candidates to achieve the target protein requirement, which can be applied to feed and food. Promotion of protein sources from insects is carried out by a number of countries in Europe. The advantage of insects as a source of protein is mainly because with a smaller amount of feed these insects can produce the same amount of protein as traditional farming. According to the FAO, insects such as crickets need six times less feed than cattle, four times less than sheep, and twice as little as pigs and broilers to produce the same amount of protein.

The types of insects permitted to be bred by the European Commission for this purpose include only 7 species of insects, namely 3 types of crickets, 2 types of caterpillars and 2 types of flies. A number of insect farming companies (insect producers) have also sprung up in Europe and it is estimated that two thirds of these insects are for animal feed and one third for food or human consumption. Protein is one of the important elements in human diet. Islam regulates this food issue, so that only halal food can be consumed by Muslims around the world. And it would be even better is a food group that is halal thayibban. Eating insects such as crickets should be avoided by Muslims and seek better food such as sheep, goats and cows.

In order to meet the protein needs, there are a number of ways that can be done to anticipate the increasing needs. Indonesia is the owner of the largest palm oil plantation in the world with an area of ​​more than 15 million hectares or more than one half of the island of Java and this has great potential if it can be exploited. The integration of cattle farming in palm oil plantations has been widely carried out and this can be optimized by integrating sheep-palm oil plantation also. In fact, the two activities can complement each other because the two activities are not carried out simultaneously in the same palm oil plantation. When palm oil plantations are replanted (plant rejuvenation), then at the age of palm oil trees less than 3.5 years, cows cannot be grazed on that land and the same land can be used for sheep grazing. The replanting (plant rejuvenation) of palm oil plantations is carried out in turns in the palm oil plantation area, so that livestock or sheep grazing also follows suit.

Lamb is halalan thayibban food even used in worship, namely for aqiqah and qurban. The production of sheep-based protein is certainly highly recommended so that in addition to meeting the protein needs in halalab thayibban food, is also to support the practice of worship. With the largest Muslim population in the world and vast oil palm plantation, running sheep farms as a source of protein would certainly be much better. With an area of ​​​​palm oil plantations reaching more than 15 million hectares, the potential for meat production from sheep is also huge.

Dichotomy of Energy Plantation and Legumes Plantation

There is a dichotomy between friends in livestock and forestry today about these legumes. From animal husbandry, they see leaves as a source of feed protein from plants and from forestry, they see wood as a source of wood that is easy to cultivate with high productivity. In the forestry sector, the wood is usually used as a renewable energy source such as wood chips, wood pellets, wood briquettes or charcoal briquettes. Forestry grows thousands of hectares of these legumes such as gliricidia with a wood orientation while the leaves are considered a by-product or waste from their plantation side. By utilizing the wood and leaves, it means getting out of this dichotomy, creating a new paradigm and being able to overcome food and energy problems or optimize the legume plantation or energy plantation (whole tree utilization) of thousands of hectares.

In addition to functioning as a legume plantation for animal feed, especially ruminants (sheep, goats, cattle, buffalo), as well as biomass fuel as above, the same plantation can also be used as a raw material for synthetic fiber board, for more details, please read here . Meanwhile, as the bioeconomic era is getting closer, the need for bioenergy, especially wood pellets, is increasing, the need for animal feed, especially ruminants which is part of the chain of human food needs is also increasing and indeed the growth of the earth's population is also increasing, and the need for biomaterials such as synthetic boards is also increasing. Therefore, the establishment of energy plantations or legume plantations or biomass plantations is very important, strategic and multi-beneficial. Based on these conditions, it is not impossible that in the near future the plantation will become a national and even global trend.

Sheep Breeding with Rotation Grazing

Efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in meat, especially for Muslims to strengthen their aqidah (faith) by means of qurban and aqiqah, are still facing many obstacles. The main obstacle is the number of seed sheep which are difficult to obtain because of the large number of productive females that are slaughtered for both aqiqah and daily consumption. Muslims are important and obligated by law (fardhu kifayah) or as a collective obligation to raise sheep to achieve the above objectives. Do not let Muslims can not perform these prayers because there are no livestock, especially sheep. Of course, it is also not good if because they are reluctant to raise sheep, Muslims will have to buy sheep from non-Muslims, even though the number in Indonesia is the majority and is also the largest in the world.

There are at least two things to overcome the problem of the sustainability of the supply of sheep, namely, firstly with a set of regulations to provide strict sanctions and provide a deterrent effect for anyone who is proven to slaughter productive females, and secondly, by increasing the production of seed sheep or lamb breeds as much as possible so that they can keep pace with the rate of productive ewes that are slaughtered. In the first point, although there is  a regulation, in fact it is difficult to implement because the government is not firm and the light sanctions. While in the second point, anyone can do it, so it seems that the second point is easier to do.

The location of sheep farming can be done anywhere, whether in villages, mountain slopes, forest edges and even in urban areas. These livestock models adapt to the characteristics of the location, especially regarding the source of feed. For example, in urban areas with limited land, the sheepfolds must even be leveled, with feed sources especially from food industry wastes. In the food industry, the main product are for human food and by-products or waste for animal feed, such as tempe and tofu factories, noodle factories, biscuit factories and so on. Meanwhile, in rural areas with large areas of land, grazing is also very possible. Grazing will save on feed costs and is very suitable for seed sheep production or breeding. While rotation grazing is a better grazing technique so that the efficiency and performance of the farm is better. Even on land that is close to an energy plantation, apart from grazing with abundant sources of feed, a feed factory can also be built in that location. And basically the more models with various variations, the more regions in Indonesia that can be worked on for self-sufficiency in meat especially halal meat.

In rotation grazing, the grazing area will be divided into paddocks. And basically the more paddocks, the better because pasture can be utilized as a source of animal feed to the fullest. In general to start with 5 to 10 paddock with each paddock for grazing 3 to 7 days then rested 25-30 days. Of almost all rotation grazing practices, 4 paddock is the minimum number to start with. The square shape is the best shape for the paddock, so try to get as close to it as possible. The shape of the small elongated and circular paddock is not good because it is more difficult to achieve an even utilization of grass by livestock.

By increasing its production centers, the problems of seed sheep will be overcome. Of course this takes time and continuous effort. The unused, marginal and critical lands which amount to millions of hectares can be converted into the livestock area. Divine motivation to strengthen aqidah and part in enforcing Islamic law will continue to motivate Muslims to raise sheep farming, in addition to meeting their daily protein needs in the form of meat. The people's culinary shift from protein consumption of chicken meat to duck meat and currently more and more lamb is consumed. The halal industry should also be growing with Muslim business actors themselves. 

Bioeconomy in Ex-Coal Mining Land

Bioeconomy is defined as knowledge-based production and uses biological resources or living things to produce products, processes, and services in the economic sector within the framework of a sustainable economic system.

Coal which is a fossil energy with bioeconomy seems to be two contradictory thing. In practice, however, this may not be the case. After the coal deposit is extracted from the bowels of the earth, the land should be reclaimed so that it can be used for bioeconomy. Moreover, in the future era or era of decarbonization, the use of coal will also begin to be reduced due to its bad influence on climate change and global warming. A number of countries have prepared systematic plans for reducing the use of coal and in the future to not use it at all. Indonesia itself is a coal producing country with the third rank in the world (after China and India) with more than 550 million tons of production, which is the largest source of state revenue from the mining sector as well as many environmental problems due to the exploitation of the coal. The ex-coal land should be reclaimed so that it can be used again for productive activities such as agriculture, animal husbandry and forestry. Soil conditions after exploitation should be at least the same as before the coal exploitation. With its tropical climate, the bioeconomic programs should also be easier to carry out.

We are required to continue to learn so that we understand the changing circumstances, then understand the core of the problem so that we can do the best, including providing solutions. Sometimes a problem can be solved quickly, but on the other hand a problem needs a long and continuous solution. Factors of religion, politics, economy and natural conditions are a number of things that influence these changes. The problems of climate change and demographics are examples of problems facing humanity globally today and require gradual and long-term solutions. For the problem of climate change, in particular, a number of efforts have been made and seem to be getting more intensive lately.

In the future era, the combination of economic activities that are environmentally sound, but also capable of providing good economic growth or bioeconomy, with its premise on the safety of the earth, will greatly color human life. The high awareness of environmental problems distinguishes it from the exploitative economy of the past that left massive environmental damage. The financial economy or the financial sector but does not have an impact on the real sector, clearly does not provide benefits, even has repeatedly caused crises or has been proven to damage the economy itself. In more practical terms, the financial sector economy does not create new jobs. The food, energy and human goods sectors must be produced in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner. For example, bioenergy as the best energy source must be continuously encouraged and improved, for a detailed explanation, read here.

Post-coal mining land is very minimal in nutrients and even acidic, so it needs preparation in the form of special treatment before being used for various purposes. This process can't be fast but also not too long, in a matter of 2-3 years the land should have been able to be used with the condition of the land or soil in good condition even better than before the coal mining activity. In addition to improving the physical and chemical structure of the soil, it is also necessary to add nutrients from organic matter. The use of biochar with its characteristics will be able to improve the physical and chemical properties of the soil, even with the addition of organic matter it will also fertilize the soil better. The biochar will also be able to last for hundreds of years, unlike organic materials that may need to be added periodically to maintain soil fertility. The best organic material for post-coal mining is livestock manure. This makes livestock ideally suited to be integrated into the post-mining reclamation program.

With a land area of ​​​​millions of hectares, the recovery of the post-coal land will provide environmental, economic and social benefits. Of course this is very strategic considering the environmental hazards due to environmental damage can bring much greater natural disasters. Livestock especially ruminants will be the best entry point or “weapon” to start the reclamation by using biochar as a multi-benefit material. After the soil is fertile, any activities related to agriculture, animal husbandry and forestry can be carried out optimally. Biochar in addition to soil improvement also absorbs CO2 gas in the atmosphere so that it is very good for productivity and the environment, especially the climate. Climate change has now become a central and global issue in environmental issues and even the existence of the earth so that the policies of countries in the world take it into account. Raw materials for biochar production are also very abundant, both from plantation industrial waste such as palm oil and from forestry.

One of the tasks of human life according to Q.S. Adz Dzariyat 56 that must be carried out is 'Abdullah (a servant of Allah who is always submissive and obedient to His rules and will and only serves Him). The task of human life is also as the caliph of Allah on earth. This can be understood from the word of Allah in Q.S. Al-Baqarah: 30. Man is the noblest creature among other creatures (Surah al-Isra ': 70) and he/she was made by Allah in the best form/event, both physically and psychologically (Surat at-Tin: 5), and equipped with various potential tools and basic potentials (fitrah) that can be developed and actualized as optimally as possible through the educational process. Because of that, it is proper for humans to carry out the task of being the caliph of Allah on earth. The task of man as the caliph of Allah on earth, among others, involves the task of realizing prosperity on earth (Q.S. Hud: 61). Therefore, the task of caliphate is a sacred duty and a mandate from Allah from the first human to humans at the end of the age to come, and is a manifestation of the implementation of devotion to Him ('abdullah).

Furthermore, Allah SWT also mandates humans to re-establish balance in the universe that has been disturbed by justice (Surah 55:8-9). Currently, when the concentration of greenhouse gases continues to increase in the atmosphere so that the earth's temperature increases, it will cause icebergs at the two poles of the earth to melt, raise sea levels, climate change, to change the concentration of the earth's mass point and shift the earth's north pole. The shift in the earth's poles will affect the circulation of the earth to the earth and so will affect the position of the earth in the universe. What happens if these changes continue or even accelerate? The balance of nature is disturbed, the sun rises from the west and at the end there will be a collision between planets and stars in the solar system and the universe, there will be doomsday. Carbon trading is one of the efforts to reduce these greenhouse gases, and as human awareness continues to increase, the price of carbon or the cost of compensating for CO2 gas has increased recently.

To reduce the earth's temperature, namely by reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases. To reduce 1 ppm concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is equivalent to absorbing about 15 gigatons of CO2. Meanwhile, the costs required for mitigating major climate change disasters are estimated at USD 1.6 trillion to USD 3.8 trillion annually. To reach the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere to 350 ppm, it takes about 70,000 biochar the size of the Giza pyramid, assuming that fossil fuels are discontinued. With a Giza pyramid volume of 2.6 million m3 and an average biochar density of 200 kg/m3, the Giza pyramid-sized biochar weighs 520 million kg or 520 thousand tons. Great job of course. Biochar production should grow 5000 times from its current production capacity. With biochar the size of the Giza pyramid unit we need to build 4 pyramids per day (about 2 million tons of biochar per day) for the next 100 years and starting now. And the post-coal mining land is likened to a dead earth, while humans as caliphs on earth are ordered to prosper this earth by fertilizing the soil.

Production of Synthetic Boards*, Ruminant Livestock and Animal Feed Industry from Biomass Plantation

Synthetic boards such as laminate, particleboard, fiberboard and cement board can be made from wood produced by biomass plantation. In addition to the small size of the wood, it is also of low quality which currently does not have an adequate utilization value. Forests or biomass plantations can be used as the raw material for the synthetic board. With fast rotation crops with short rotation coppice and fast growing species, such as calliandra and gliricidia, it is very potential as raw material for the synthetic boards. The production of this synthetic boards also uses the same type of raw material as wood pellets, namely wood waste or wood worth as wood waste. Wood produced from this biomass plantation is included in the second group, namely wood worth as wood waste. Even on the other hand, the large wood processing industry that produces a lot of wood waste, not a few who process the waste for the production for wood pellets and synthetic boards.

However, it would be better if the source of raw material for the synthetic boards production comes from forests or biomass plantations so that not only wood is the raw material for the artificial boards but also leaves and flowers. The leaves can then be used as ruminant animal feed and even the production of animal feed as a separate industry. While the flowers from the plantation can be used for honey bee farming. In livestock business, especially ruminants, feed is the highest cost component which is estimated to reach more than 80%. The forest or biomass plantations cover an area of thousands of hectares and are capable of being the main feed source for large ruminant livestock. Even if there is a large surplus, the animal feed industry also needs to be made independent.

Animal feed in the form of hay and pellets is suitable for long distance use because transportation costs will be cheap. Basically all parts of the tree can be utilized so as to provide optimal benefits. To maintain the sustainability of the forest or biomass plantation, good management is also needed so that the productivity performance of the forest or biomass plantation can be maintained. Along with the increasing population, the need for housing and other means of living also increases as well as food. Forests or biomass plantations can help overcome both problems.

*Synthetic boards are laminated board, particle board, fiberboard and cement board. While plywood is not included in it, although plywood is also a type of synthetic board. Plywood production from veneer sheets derived from large diameter wood, is not like this biomass plantation.