Jakarta, The Indonesia Post – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expects the productivity and quality of sugarcane to increase with the bioethanol production program from these plants in Mojokerto, East Java.
“We have started to plant sugar cane which is grown in a modern way and we hope that later the productivity of the plant will be better and further increase,” said President Jokowi in a written statement received by the Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat in Jakarta, Friday.
On this occasion the President inaugurated the “Cane Bioethanol for Energy Security” program which was held at the bioethanol plant of PT. Energi Agro Nusantara (Enero) in Mojokerto Regency, East Java.
Sugarcane is known as a raw material for sugar production. However, sugarcane produced by fermentation techniques can also produce bioethanol, which can be used as fuel.
According to the President, Indonesia was a sugar exporter in the 1800s. However, currently Indonesia has to import very large amounts of sugar for domestic consumption and industry needs.
Therefore, the President instructed the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir to improve the quality of sugarcane seeds with the best varieties in the world.
“We are working with Brazil on this and already have good experience in sugarcane and confectionery management,” he said.
The President also hopes that through this program, Indonesia in the future can achieve the target of being independent in food security, including no longer importing sugar from other countries.
“But it will take time, maybe in the next five years. Our target is like that,” said the President.
In order to achieve this target, the President asked the farmers and sugar factories in the country to work well together. In addition, the machines in the sugar factory must also be updated with more modern ones and use the latest technology.
“The key is indeed good seeds, machines by giving good yields to farmers. The key is there, and this does require a lot of investment, requires a lot of money, but we have intended to change this,” said the President.
“If the sugar cane is successful, then the B30 palm oil can be increased again, this will strengthen the energy security of our country, Indonesia,” Jokowi added. (mhn/bbs)
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