The Government Of The Republic Of Indonesia Will Stop The 2027 Industrial Salt Imports, This Is The Minister Trenggono's Step

Minister of KP Sakti Wahyu Trenggono (photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KP) Sakti Wahyu Trenggono expressed his belief that Indonesia could stop imports of industrial salt by 2027.

Trenggono assessed that this target is very realistic if it is supported by adequate funding.

"I have reported to the President (Prabowo Subianto) and he asked that steps to stop imports be carried out immediately," Trenggono said when met by reporters after the 2024 IMFBF: Blue Food Competent Authority Dialogue event in Jakarta, quoted Wednesday, December 11.

Trenggono said, one of the main strategies is to use the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) region as a national salt production center.

He highlighted the climate similarity between NTT and the Darwin region in Australia which is capable of producing up to 10 million tons of salt per year.

"NTT has about eight months of hot weather a year, the same as in Darwin. With the right technology, areas such as Sabu and Malacca in NTT can become high-quality salt producers," he said.

To realize this target, the government will cooperate with State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN). Including PT Garam to carry out a pilot project for salt production.

Furthermore, Trenggono also opens opportunities for other SOEs to join this project.

"PT Garam must be involved and maybe there will be a new SOE participating. The process is ongoing," he said.

Previously, the government ensured that salt imports for industrial needs would still be opened, even with a gradual reduction target.

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan or Zulhas stated that this policy will take effect temporarily while waiting for domestic production readiness to meet the needs of industrial salt.

"What is still (imported) is for industry. Pak Sakti Wahyu Trenggono (Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries) asked for two years (to build a modeling of industrial salt)," Zulhas said when met by reporters after the IMF 2024: Blue Food Competent Authority Dialogue event in Jakarta, Tuesday, December 10.

Zulhas said the government is optimistic that the target of reducing industrial salt imports in the next two years can be achieved. This is also in line with the belief of KP Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono who conveyed that Indonesia is able to develop high-quality industrial salt production.

"Hopefully two years (achieved) because Mas Trenggono said that Australia could, if other places could do it, why couldn't we. Industrial salt, right, there is a tool, there is an engine to make it. If people can make it, we can't," said Zulhas.