South Korean politician calls for investigation of biomass energy material imported from Indonesia [Video]

JAKARTA – A South Korean National Assembly member has called for a moratorium on wood pellet imports from Indonesia and an investigation into their environmental impacts after government data and satellite analysis linked the country’s biomass imports to deforestation in Indonesia.

“We should stop imports of wood pellets … and it’s important for our government to investigate exactly what kinds of environmental destruction is occurring on the spot,” Moon Dae-Lim, a lawmaker with South Korea’s main liberal opposition Democratic Party, said in recent written responses to questions from The Associated Press. “Identifying and correcting potential risks in supply chains and value chains is key to a sustainable project.”

Biomass can come from organic material like plants, wood and waste, and many coal-fired power plants can be easily modified to burn it alongside coal to make energy. As countries accelerate their energy transitions, demand for biomass is growing: The use of bioenergy has increasedan …