JAKARTA - Revitalisation of 11 sugar mills in Java is urgent in order to achieve self-sufficiency in sugar, said House of Representatives' Commission VI member Mohammad Toha. This was conveyed after a meeting with a number of directors of sugar companies in Semarang, Central Java and quoted from the House's official website on Monday (27/7).
According to Mr Toha, revitalisation is required for 11 sugar mills in Central Java in order to support self-sufficiency in sugar. Of the 11 mills, only four are still in operation. Two have suspended operations, two have permanently stopped operations, and three are operated through partnerships.
In addition to revitalising sugar mills, Mr Toha said, self-sufficiency in sugar can also be achieved through efficiency in sugar mills, intensification and extensification in sugar cane farms, and arranging the import of raw sugar.
According to PT Perkebunan Nusantara (Persero) III CEO Mahmudi, self-sufficiency in sugar can be achieved if mills operate year-round while currently mills only effectively operate for four months. "If sugar mills operated year-round, they could produce 3 million tonnes," he said. (LK/MS)