BSP's profit up

JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed PT Bakrie Sumatera Plantations (BSP) expects to book a Rp 41.2 billion (US$17.4 million) net income this year, up 23 percent on its Rp 33.3 billion net income for 1995.

BSP president Hanif Bakrie said yesterday his company's rubber plantation in Asahan regency, North Sumatra, was projected to produce 22,750 tons a year.

"Each hectare can produce up to 1,609 tons of rubber a year valued at around Rp 90 billion," he said.

The plantation produced various rubber products including solid latex, crumb rubber and cream latex, he said.

He was quoted by Antara as claiming that BSP was one of the world's best cream latex producers. Cream latex is an antiallergenic and low protein rubber used for medical equipment.

BSP, which recently got an ISO 9002 certificate, also operates 4,000 hectares of palm oil estates in Asahan, Jambi and Pasaman in West Sumatra and Sangau in West Kalimantan.

He said the company planned to open a palm oil plant early next year to make 30 tons an hour. (04)