JAKARTA, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia will soon begin constructing its new salt farm in Rote Ndao Regency, East Nusa Tenggara province, as part of a strategy to eliminate salt imports by 2027, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono announced on Tuesday.
The government has allocated a budget of up to 2 trillion rupiahs for the project, which will be developed over the 2025-2026 period. The first phase is set to begin this year and be completed in early 2026.
"This salt farm is targeted to produce 200 tons of salt per hectare per year, amounting to a total of 2.6 million tons annually," Trenggono said, adding that the production value is expected to reach 2.6 trillion rupiahs per year.
He highlighted that this project is not only expected to meet national salt demand but also create significant employment opportunities on a large scale. He estimated that it could absorb up to 26,600 workers from upstream to downstream sectors.
The move is part of a broader national plan to make Indonesia self-sufficient in salt production. The country currently requires around 5 million tons of salt annually, and Trenggono noted that increasing domestic production is key to meeting this demand.
"I have promised President Prabowo Subianto that by the end of 2027, all salt imports will be terminated," said Trenggono.
The Rote Ndao salt farm is expected to contribute over half of the domestic demand, while the remainder will be met by assisting small producers across the country. (1 U.S. dollar equals about 16,280 rupiah) ■
