KKP Optimistic Self-Sufficiency In Salt Reached 2027, Here's The Way

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) admits that it is optimistic that Indonesia can achieve self-sufficiency in salt in 2027.

Deputy Minister of KP Didit Herdiawan Ashaf said the government would stop importing salt gradually, starting next year.

"Our 2027 program does not import salt, but for this year and next year there are still some imported," said Didit at a Working Meeting (Raker) with Commission IV of the DPR RI at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, September 16.

Related to this, the KKP has also prepared a number of steps. The Director General of Marine Management and Marine Space of the KKP Koswara said that at least two strategies were carried out by his party.

The first strategy is the construction of a salt industrial center area in Rote, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), covering an area of 13,000 hectares (ha).

He calculated, assuming 200 tons of salt can be produced per hectare, domestic salt production can increase to 2.6 million tons.

In addition, the KKP also made a modeling, in which a 2,000 ha industrial zone was built, while the rest was developed by the private sector.

"Then through the intensification of salt existing land, ponds, it was also driven by an increase in salt of around 30 percent," he said.

He said the target of completely stopping salt imports in 2027 applies to all types. Currently, said Koswara, Indonesia has self-sufficiency in consumption salt considering the qualified supply from within the country.

"What is still imported is industrial salt. It is used for the CAP (Chlor Alkali Plant) industry, for the food and pharmaceutical industries. Actually, those imported are for domestic consumption have actually been fulfilled with the existing ones," said Koswara.