# Japan's biomass demand tied to Indonesian forest concessions

_Monday, September 14, 2026 at 3:53 AM EDT · Science, Infrastructure · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![Japan's biomass demand tied to Indonesian forest concessions — Primary](https://scx2.b-cdn.net/gfx/news/hires/2020/3-tropicalfore.jpg)

Environmental groups' satellite analysis says expanding Indonesian biomass production is driving deforestation as Japan's demand for wood pellets rises.

The groups identified at least 45 biomass concessions covering more than 750,000 hectares of natural forest. Japan imported a record 8.64 million tons of wood pellets in 2025, up 35% from 2024, while imports from Indonesia rose more than 500% between 2023 and 2025. Projects already certified in Japan can continue receiving biomass subsidies for up to 20 years after beginning operations.

## Sources

- [Phys.org](https://phys.org/news/2026-09-japan-biomass-energy-boom-threatens.html)

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Retrieved: 2026-09-14T12:16:22.957Z
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