PT Garam and Nindya Karya explore development of Rote Ndao salt centre
PT Garam (Persero) and PT Nindya Karya (Persero) are exploring cooperation on the development of the National Salt Industry Centre (K-SIGN) in Rote Ndao, East Nusa Tenggara, to support increased production and accelerate national salt self-sufficiency.
The cooperation was strengthened through the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two state-owned enterprises covering the exploration of investment, construction, development, funding and management of K-SIGN.
Director General of Marine Management at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Koswara, said in an official statement in Jakarta on Thursday that the collaboration is a strategic step to integrate salt production capacity, technology and infrastructure in strengthening the national salt industry.
“This synergy is expected to accelerate the development of the salt industry in a more integrated manner while supporting the achievement of national salt self-sufficiency,” Koswara said.
According to him, achieving salt self-sufficiency is not only determined by increased production at the upstream level, but also requires infrastructure support, technology, production efficiency and strengthened area governance.
He therefore encouraged the cooperation to be translated immediately into concrete steps on the ground by combining the capacity and resources of each state-owned enterprise.
President Director of PT Garam, Abraham Mose, said the company is ready to strengthen operational capacity and salt industry productivity through collaboration with PT Nindya Karya.
Meanwhile, President Director of PT Nindya Karya, Firmansyah, said the construction of K-SIGN Rote Ndao is part of the company’s commitment to supporting increased domestic salt production capacity and the national self-sufficiency programme.
The development of K-SIGN in Rote Ndao has entered its second phase with land development covering 751.32 hectares.
Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan, previously stated that the total area developed has reached 1,368 hectares and is targeted to begin initial salt production in September 2026.
The area is designed as a modern and integrated salt production centre with a productivity target of 200 tonnes per hectare per year and producing salt with sodium chloride content of up to 97 percent.
The government is also still open to the possibility of developing K-SIGN up to 10,764 hectares through collaboration between the government and the private sector.