The first arenga palm sugar factory in the world opened in 2007. It is a modern, hygienic and environmentally friendly factory. The factory and a 2,000 hectare plantation are run by the Masarang Foundation, a non-government organization (NGO) specializing in environmental conservation.

The sugar factory is a farmer cooperative which over 6,000 local farmers supply fresh sap for sugar production, share the profit, and elect the director.

Special Designed Factory
The factory makes use of the leftover geothermal fuel from the state energy company Pertamina as its energy source, saving 200,000 of trees per year that were traditionally use as fuel to cook the sugar palm sap. Pipes are build to transport the fuel from the energy company to the factory.

It is a zero-waste factory that imitate nature. Water captured when evaporating the sap becomes drinking water which is filtered by the sugar palm root. Carbon dioxide released from the fermentation is led into the ponds to promote the growth of the algae which then become fish food. Remnants from the fermentation become cattle feed. And more.

The sap is also fermented into ethanol to produce electricity for the factory as well as cooking fuel for the local community, and replace gasoline used in motorcycles, small vehicles, small machines and generators.

Making palm sugar

Making rum

Outside the sugar factory

Arenga Sugar Palm

Climb high up on the sugar palm to collect sap

"X" trees with the highest sugar content of sap