Prabowo Subianto Says Those Opposing Downstream Program Fail to Think Logic
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1 February 2024 10:12 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Presidential candidate number 02 Prabowo Subianto has again stressed that the downstream program, including the nickel downstream project, plays a pivotal role in the nation’s development.
“Nickel is an element needed by industries, and we have nickel, one of the largest [nickel reserves] in the world,” said Prabowo at the Trimegah Political and Economic Outlook 2024 event in Jakarta on Wednesday, January 31.
Prabowo, who serves as Defense Minister, is running in the presidential election alongside Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of President Joko Widodo or Jokowi. They are competing against candidate pair number 01 Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar and candidate pair number 03 Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md.
Prabowo asked rhetorically why Indonesian nickel has to be sold cheaply abroad when raw nickel can be processed domestically. “People’s thinking is so messed up. I really don't understand them.”
Apart from nickel downstream, he mentioned tin, copper, rubber, seaweed, and gold downstream projects, with the latter having a production potential of 60 tons per year. “Imagine if we can produce 60 tons of gold a year. [What will the value be] in the next three years, four years? That's the result of downstreaming.”
Prabowo Subianto criticized those who disagreed with the idea of downstreaming, accusing them of not being able to think logically. “I think you cannot go with this logic. Don't teach us. You don't need a Ph.D. to know that what we are doing, (downstream program) in Indonesia is more profitable for the people,” he said.
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