Pulp industry relies on natural forests<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's pulp industry still uses raw
\nmaterial from natural forests and land-clearing activities, but
\nnone from forest estates, Director General of Forest Utilization
\nTitus Sarijanto said.<\/p>\n
Titus said the government had encouraged businesses to
\nestablish pulpwood estates in 1989 and some had immediately done
\nso.<\/p>\n
But so far, none had begun harvesting, although all the
\nspecies planted were fast-growing types which could be harvested
\nafter seven to 10 years, he said.<\/p>\n
In comparison, timber species used for furniture and plywood
\nshould be at least 15 years old before they could be harvested.<\/p>\n
Titus was quoted by Antara as saying that a pulpwood estate
\nmanaged by PT Musi Hutan Persada, a subsidiary of the Barito
\nPacific group, would soon begin harvesting 193,715 hectares of
\nits estate in Muara Enim, South Sumatra.<\/p>\n
However, he added, the group's pulp mill was not complete yet.<\/p>\n
The pulpwood estates of 12 other companies had not yet reached
\nthe harvesting age.<\/p>\n
According to the Ministry of Forestry, 13 companies had
\nestablished -- or were in the process of establishing -- pulpwood
\nestates that had now reached a total of 805,354 hectares.<\/p>\n
The government had allocated 2.625 million hectares to these
\ncompanies for pulpwood estates.<\/p>\n
These were PT Musi Hutan Persada (193,715 hectares), PT Tusam
\nHutani Lestari (20,949), PT Indonusa Indrapuri (21,522 hectares),
\nPT ITCI Hutani Manunggal (68,766 hectares), PT Surya Hutani Jaya
\n(91,428 hectares), PT Tanjung Redep (37,060 hectares), PT
\nFinantara Intiga, (previously Enso Forest Development, 13,550
\nhectares), PT Adindo Foresta (14,013 hectares), PT Menara Hutan
\nBuana (77,765 hectares), PT Inti Indorayon Utama (40,698
\nhectares), PT Arara Abadi (126,102 hectares), PT Wira Karya Sakti
\n(43,331 hectares) and PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (56,455
\nhectares).<\/p>\n
According to earlier reports, Indonesia's pulp production
\ncapacity was expected to reach 11.1 million tons by the year
\n2010.<\/p>\n
Pulp production capacity was 3.1 million tons in 1996 and was
\nexpected to grow to 4.4 million tons this year, 5.2 million in
\n1998 and 5.7 million in 1999 and the year 2000.<\/p>\n
Internal demand, plotted at 2.5 million tons in 1996, was
\nexpected to grow to 2.9 million tons this year, 3.2 million tons
\nin 1998, 3.6 million in 1999 and four million tons by the year
\n2000.<\/p>\n
This would mean a 60 percent rise from 1996 levels, driven by
\nan expected annual economic growth rate of eight percent which
\nshould boost demand for paper and packaging.<\/p>\n
Export for pulp was expected to rise from one million tons in
\n1996 to 2.8 million tons in 2000, and for paper and cupboard from
\n1.7 million tons last year to 2.9 million tons in the year 2000.<\/p>\n
Pulp prices on the world market was currently a low US$400-
\n$450 a ton, down from $900 several years ago. Observers have said
\nthe drop was due to periodical fluctuations and was soon expected
\nto rise.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's pulp production currently made up about 2 percent
\nof the world's total. (pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pulp-industry-relies-on-natural-forests-1447893297",
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