DPR Member Expresses Concern Over Cement Scarcity in Aceh

A member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VII for the Aceh I electoral district, Drs H Teuku Zulkarnaini Ampon Bang, has expressed serious concern over the scarcity and high price of cement in several regions of Aceh. “The simple question is, Aceh has a cement producer in Lhoknga, Aceh Besar. So why are people in several areas struggling to obtain cement at a reasonable price? This needs to be clarified concretely and objectively,” he said in a statement received on Thursday. The man known as Ampon Bang assessed that the issue cannot be viewed merely as a trade problem, but as a strategic matter concerning development and the recovery of the Acehnese people following disasters. Based on information received, the price of a 40-kilogramme sack of cement in several Aceh regions currently ranges from Rp80,000 to Rp85,000, while in other areas it has reached Rp90,000 to Rp110,000 per sack. This condition is increasingly burdening people who are rebuilding and repairing homes after the hydrometeorological disaster that struck Aceh at the end of 2025. He stated that the problem is becoming more serious because information indicates that PT Solusi Bangun Andalas has shown an escalation in cement production and has not experienced a decline; in fact, production has reportedly increased compared to the previous year. Based on data he received, current production capacity is around 3,700 tonnes per day, equivalent to 92,500 sacks, while Aceh’s demand is estimated at 4,200 tonnes per day or about 105,000 sacks. This indicates a daily deficit of approximately 500 tonnes or 12,500 sacks. “If production has not decreased, then we must find out where the problem lies. Is it in stock, distribution, supply allocation, transportation, the distributor network, or even the price structure? The public should not have to bear the consequences while the root of the problem remains unaddressed,” he stressed. He also highlighted the price disparity between Aceh and Medan, North Sumatra. According to information he obtained, the price of several cement brands in Medan at the beginning of August was around Rp70,000 to Rp75,000 per sack, whereas in Aceh prices reached Rp80,000 to Rp110,000 per sack. “This must be explained economically. We are not a region that is entirely dependent on external supplies. We have a cement factory in Lhoknga. Logically, the existence of a local producer should shorten the supply chain and reduce distribution costs. If the reality is that prices in Aceh are higher, then there is a supply chain issue that we must investigate,” he said. He plans to immediately investigate production capacity, stock, distribution across districts and cities, the price structure, and the company’s steps to close the gap between production and demand in Aceh. “I do not want this problem to drag on. We need to obtain data. How much is produced, how much is in stock, where is it distributed, what is the price from the factory to distributors and retailers, and what causes the price difference between Aceh and Medan,” he stated. He will also seek clarification regarding additional supply from outside Aceh and the increase in operational hours at cement filling terminals, including the extent to which these measures are effective in addressing the scarcity. He stressed that the cement issue must be resolved quickly because Aceh is currently in a post-disaster recovery phase. He noted that uncontrolled cement price increases would raise construction costs, slow down the rehabilitation of people’s homes, and potentially hamper reconstruction programmes. “People who have already been hit by disaster should not have to face a second burden in the form of expensive and scarce building materials. They are trying to recover. The government, producers, and the entire supply chain must ensure cement is available and its price is reasonable,” he said. He emphasised that cement availability is part of Aceh’s development resilience. Therefore, solving the problem is not enough by merely increasing production; it must be ensured that cement actually reaches the community with equitable distribution and rational pricing. “We must look at this problem from upstream to downstream. If production is sufficient but people still struggle to get cement, then there is a problem that must be identified. I will investigate this on the ground and request that all data be disclosed transparently,” he concluded.