At a press conference on the ministry's year-end report on Friday, Director General of Marine and Marine Space Management, Victor Gustaaf Manoppo, said that the production achievement bolstered the government's determination to end salt imports by 2025.
He mentioned that the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs have repeatedly expressed their determination to ensure the end of edible salt imports by 2025.
"The imports will continue only for industrial salt to fulfill national demand," Manoppo said.
As a next step, the government will continue to bolster salt production to achieve self-sufficiency, including in industrial salt. For this, he said, the nation aims to meet at least 30–50 percent of its needs in the coming years.
"We expect the imports of salt for industrial use to cease by 2027," he added.
Manoppo stated that Indonesia still needs to import salt for the time being to fulfill demand in three sectors: the chlor-alkali industry, which needs 1.7 million tons annually; general industries, such as pharmaceuticals and food, with a demand of 500,000 tons; and reserve stock, which requires 800,000 tons.
To achieve salt self-sufficiency, the ministry will carry out several strategies, starting with strengthening regulations on salt production.
The ministry will also revitalize salt-producing areas, starting with 100 hectares in 2025 and expanding to 900 hectares by 2030. Additionally, a pilot project on salt production center development in East Nusa Tenggara will kick off next year.
"We are committed to ensuring that we will achieve food self-sufficiency, including in salt, by 2027, which we will pursue by setting up a pilot project for salt production focused in East Nusa Tenggara in 2025," he said.
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Translator: Bayu Saputra, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Anton Santoso
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