Indonesia will provide 6 million hectares of land for local and foreign investors to develop plantations for biofuel, a senior official said here Friday.

"The doors are opened not only for domestic use but also for the export as worldwide biofuel demand is increasing now because of high oil prices," Indonesian Energy and Natural Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro told reporters.

Purnomo made the remarks after attending a business club roundtable session in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.

A few Malaysian companies have expressed their keen interest to invest in the biofuel sector, Purnomo said, adding the opportunity is only for upstream activities.

The Indonesian government has decided to allow Pertamina, the state-oil company, to be in charge of the downstream activities, Purnomo said.

Current increase in the oil prices has pushed Indonesia to realize the need to prepare for alternative energy like biofuel, Purnomo added.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also attended the business session, who arrived here Thursday for an emergency meeting attended by countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Source: Xinhua