"We hope that Indonesia can export salt in 2013."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s Maritime and Fisheries Minister, Sharif Cicip Sutardjo, hopes that Indonesia can export salt in 2013 since the country has become self-sufficient in the production of salt.

"We hope that Indonesia can export salt in 2013," said Sharif on Wednesday.

According to him, Indonesia has been waiting since 1960s to export salt. Since Indonesia has become self-sufficient in the production of salt, the country need not import salt in the future.

Excess salt can be used by industries, said Sharif.

He said salt fields are spread across 31 thousand hectares in 40 places.

According to the Ministry, the production of salt reached 2.9 million tons in 2012. Farmers who participated in the Empowerment for People Salt Industry program were responsible for 2 million tonnes of salt.

Every year, 1.4 million tonnes of salt are required for consumption.

The Wijaya Karya (WIKA) Corporation recently announced a plan to construct a plant with a capacity of 200,000 tons. Rp250 billion will be invested in the plant. The plant will be constructed on a piece of land that belongs to Garam Corporation.

"I have encouraged WIKA to construct a plant on non-productive land. This cooperation is expected to be realized by 2014," said the State Enterprises Minister, Dahlan Iskan, in Jakarta on January 8.

He said his party has granted permission for the utilization of 280 hectares of land owned by Garam Corporation.

The Minister said, in the future, the land will be developed into an industrial area.

"However, in the first phase, a plant will be built on 30 to 50 hectares of land, after which a sea-port will be constructed," he said.
(Uu.B019/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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