Inaugurating The Nitrat Amonium Factory In East Kalimantan, Jokowi: Can Reduce Imports By 8 Percent

President Jokowi inaugurated the Amonium Nitrat Factory in Bontang, East Kalimantan (Photo: screenshot of the presidential set by Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated the museumium nitrate factory PT Pupuk Kaltim in Bontang, East Kalimantan. Jokowi hopes that with the construction of the factory, the fertilizer industry in the country can be more independent.

Jokowi explained that several components of the raw materials for fertilizer are still imported, such as aluminum nitrates. Thus, the existence of this factory is expected to reduce the import needs of Indonesian nitric amonium.

"I really appreciate the hard work in developing the aluminum nitrate industry. This is important because 21 percent of our aluminum nitrate is still imported. With the construction of the East Kalimantan Amonium Nitrat factory, it will reduce 8 percent (import needs) from 21 percent," Jokowi said as seen on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Thursday, February 29.

The investment value of the factory construction reached IDR 1.2 trillion.

Jokowi also requested that Indonesia continue to expand its fertilizer raw material factory, so that nitrate amonium is no longer imported.

"I ask for this expansion to be continued. So, we can substitute imported goods. For IDR 1.2 trillion, I think for the Ministry of SOEs, it's not big money, it's small money. We just need to continue the 21 percent so that everything is completed," he said.

On the same occasion, Jokowi advised that other fertilizer raw material factories continue to be built in Indonesia. Thus, Indonesia's dependence on imports can be reduced because everything can be produced domestically.

"It's not just an amonium nitrate business, but other imported products must all be produced domestically because we have the power for it," he said.