ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The Smelter Grade Alumina Refinery (SGAR) Mempawah Phase I project in West Kalimantan officially carried out its first injection of bauxite on Tuesday, September 24 2024.
The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is very proud and appreciates the PT Borneo Alumina Indonesia smelter project, which is a collaboration between PT Inalum and PT Antam.
“We hope that with an investment of IDR 16 trillion we will truly start new chapters for Indonesia as an industrial country,” said Jokowi at the inauguration of the SGAR Smelter’s First Bauxite Injection.
Jokowi said that the construction of this smelter was Indonesia’s effort to become an industrial country, process its own resources, and no longer export raw materials.
“Stop exporting raw materials, process them yourself, because the added value will be obtained by the community and the country. “And the numbers can really see the jump in added value,” said Jokowi.
Jokowi gave an example of the mineral nickel. “Prior to 2020, our nickel exports were approximately US$1.4 billion to US$2 billion. “As soon as we stopped last year, the export value increased by US$ 34.8 billion,” he explained.
So far, Indonesia’s aluminum needs are 1.2 million tons, of which 56 percent is still imported.
“We have the raw materials, but 56 percent of our aluminum is imported. Therefore, after production is finished, we can stop importing 56 percent of this, we will not import any more, we will produce it ourselves domestically, and we will not lose foreign exchange. Because from here, we have to spend approximately US$3.5 billion in foreign exchange every year. “That’s a huge number,” he explained. (ATN)
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