Arabic Sugar King Al Khalee Builds IDR 28 Trillion Factory In Sulawesi To Help Fulfill The Needs Of Eastern Indonesia

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The government through the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) said that national sugar production will continue to increase thanks to the investment commitment of Al Khaleej Sugar Co (AKS) in Indonesia worth US$2 billion or equivalent to Rp28.6 trillion.

Plt. The Director General of Agro Industry at the Ministry of Industry, Putu Juli Ardika, said that Al Khaleej's investment will focus on meeting the needs of the Sulawesi region and Eastern Indonesia.

"If realized, this investment will help meet the national sugar needs in Sulawesi and Eastern Indonesia," he said in an official statement quoted on Monday, November 8.

According to Putu, in addition to sugar production, AKS also produces alternative energy sources from by-products of cane sugar processing.

"The by-products of the sugar cane production process that can be used as new and renewable energy sources include bioethanol for fuel substitution from petroleum, and biomass from sugarcane bagasse as an energy source for power generation," he said.

Furthermore, Putu is optimistic that AKS' investment in Indonesia will be able to help fulfill domestic sugar supply, support import substitution programs, and produce new and environmentally friendly renewable energy.

"Because he has a large investment, he can produce around 750.00 tons per year," he continued.

In order to encourage investment in the UAE sugar giant, Putu continued, the Ministry of Industry has invited AKS to come to Indonesia and see the potential.

"In order to produce as much as 750,000 tons of sugar cane, around 100,000 hectares of sugar cane land is needed," he said.

To note, Al Khaleej Sugar Co's commitment to invest in Indonesia was achieved when the Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita visited Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) last week.

Meanwhile, Al Khaleej itself is the largest sugar producer in the Middle East region and occupies the top five in the world.