Only 8mn Tons of Crude Steel Produced out of 14mn Needed: Govt

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Industry Ministry stated that the nation-wide need for crude steel at the moment has reached 14 million tons. Nevertheless domestic steel production only produce 8 million tons per year. Despite the case, Industry Ministry keep pushing to increase national production capacity.

“Domestic steel production keeps being optimized and directed at development of special products with high additional value such as for automotive sector, water transportation or railway. As a result, we do not need to import any steel,” Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto saidon Saturday (13/1).

Industry Ministry has supported acceleration of industrial cluster development in three regions, namely Cilegon in Banten, Batulicin in SouthKalimantan and Morowali in Central Sulawesi. The Ministry expected that the three regions can meet the needs of domestic market and export, and also to realize the goal of self-sufficiency.

Airlangga explained that in order to leverage competitive edge of national steel industry, the Ministry has run a number of strategic programs including facilitating cooperation between foreign investors and domestic partners, promoting investment assisting provision of incentive for steel industry and issuing regulations that support steel industry.

KARTIKA ANGGRAENI