Semen Bosowa suffers losses

JAKARTA: Cementmaker PT. Semen Bosowa Maros, a family business linked to Vice President Jusuf Kalla, said it recorded about Rp 27 billion in losses (US$2.8 million) last year following a shortage of power in its operation base in South Sulawesi.

Semen Bosowa president director Aksa Mahmud, who is the deputy speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), said the losses occurred as the company could not fully operate its plants due to the impact of a reduction in power supply.

"State power firm PT PLN reduced its supply to our plants, causing losses on our side," Aksa was quoted by Antara as saying on Sunday.

Semen Bosowa is currently under fire due to an unpaid loan of some Rp 1.44 trillion at state-owned Bank Mandiri. The Attorney General's Office is planning to look into the case. -- JP