Ministry of Industry Ensures Local Salt Absorption Will Not Be Disturbed By Imports

INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta, the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) to ensure absorption of salt from local farmers will not be disturbed by the entry of second-stage import of salt as much as 676 thousand tons.

Director General of Chemical Industry of Textile and Aneka (IKTA) of Ministry of Industry, Achmad Sigit Dwiwahjono, said it will divide the salt quota according to the needs of every importer.

"We will match with the capacity they need to keep their production uninterrupted," Sigit said as quoted by Tempo in Jakarta (22/3/2018).

Sigit added, currently the industrial raw materials of salt users are running low. It affects the delays of various related industries such as various food, pharmaceutical, petroleum, detergent, until water treatment.

"We will not be allowed to stop, how will his workforce be?" Add it.

Furthermore, Sigit said, domestic salt sodium chloride (NaCl) still can not meet the needs of industry. "Domestic salt NaCl levels range from 84-94 percent," Sigit said.

However, there is a salt processing industry that will absorb and improve the specifications of these commodities. The industry, especially in the field of food and beverages, requires salt with a content of 97 percent NaCl.

"The F&B industry does supply raw materials from processing companies and there are currently 9 (processors) that will absorb people's salt," he said.

The government projected total national salt production of 1.5 million tons this year. Beyond the fulfillment for consumption, there is still a quota of 750-800 thousand tons for the industry. The amount will still be reduced to 650 thousand tons after processing.

"There will be a loss of about 20 percent, for example after washing and so on." he said.

The government also promised supervision on the activities of the importers through a number of independent surveyors.