Salt Import Faucet Wants To Be Closed, KKP Will Increase Production In NTT-Kulon Progo

Expert Staff for Ecology and Marine Resources of KKP Hendra Yusran Siry. Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government is targeting to stop importing consumption salt from 2025. In order to realize this target, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) focuses on increasing salt production in Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta, and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). These two areas are considered to have great potential as national salt production centers.

Expert Staff for Ecology and Marine Resources of the KKP Hendra Yusran Siry said NTT has a great opportunity to become a salt producer because it has the same coastline as Darwin, Australia, which is known as one of the areas that produces high-quality salt.

"We hope that later in the area around NTT which has similarities with the one in Darwin, we can produce higher salt," said Yusran at a press conference on the 2024 KKP Year-End Achievement Edition II in Jakarta, Tuesday, December 17.

Meanwhile, in Kulon Progo, salt production is supported by the slopes of coastal areas and hot weather conditions. To get around the rainy season, said Yusran, this area has implemented a closed salt tunnel system that can increase salt levels by more than 97 percent.

"We do it in Kulon Progo for salt systems that utilize gravity or slope on the seafront and heat using a tunnel house, the resulting salt can reach above 97 percent," he said.

He also emphasized that his party is currently focusing on improving the quality of salt production to prevent industrial salt seepage to the market as consumption salt. This step is important to maintain local salt production stability and reduce import dependence.

"We continue to strive to improve the quality of salt so that it is better and meets consumption needs. Do not let industrial salt, which currently still needs imports, leak to the market as consumption salt," he explained.

With a strategy to increase production in potential areas such as NTT and Kulon Progo, KKP believes Indonesia will be able to stop importing consumption salt starting next year. This is also an important step in achieving the KKP target to stop importing industrial salt in 2027.

"God willing, if later what we are targeting for the construction of a larger salt center around NTT can increase it, we hope that the promise during yesterday's food coordination meeting, 2027 we can self-sufficiency in food," he concluded.