“The supply of salt cannot be disrupted, according to Government Regulation No. 41/2015. So we will facilitate the import of salt for [various] industries,” Airlangga said after a meeting on the issue held with Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution in Jakarta as reported by kompas.com.

He was referring to the regulation on industry resources development.

Airlangga did not explain the details of the plan, but said the government would coordinate with relevant agencies that are authorized to issue recommendations for salt imports.

The requirement to obtain a recommendation from various institutions to import salt has discouraged investors from putting their money into the sectors that need salt, he added.

“Meanwhile, we need investment to boost [economic] growth, which is targeted at 5.4 percent this year,” he said, without disclosing how much salt the government would have to import.

Each relevant sector will be required to submit a report on the amount of salt it requires, he said.

Indonesian Salt Farmers Association (APGRI) chairman Jakfar Sodikin said that up to early November, Indonesian salt production was estimated to have reached 1.2 million tons, which could fulfill the country’s needs until February. This year’s harvest time, however, is estimated to fall in June.  

He added that certain industries could not use local salt due to the lower content of sodium chloride (NaCl).

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