In order to realize the Golden Indonesia 2045, the Ministry of SOEs (State-Owned Enterprises) under the Minister of SOEs, Erick Thohir, continues to carry out various transformations. At least, there are five transformations in SOE that are the main focus, namely digitalization transformation, renewable energy transformation, transformation in the mining industry, tourism transformation, and food transformation. Food and energy security is one of the main pillars in achieving Indonesia Gold 2045. This, as President Joko Widodo has often said on various occasions, that food and energy sovereignty is the main problem and will be a big challenge that the world must face. Therefore, in a limited meeting held some time ago, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, has given a mandate to the Ministry of SOEs, through Holding Perkebunan Nusantara to accelerate national sugar self-sufficiency and with Pertamina to support energy security. The President has ordered his staff to prepare steps to strengthen the fulfillment of consumption sugar, which is also carried out in the context of meeting the needs and increasing bioethanol production. Efforts to strengthen food and energy security are carried out by the Ministry of SOEs through the Nusantara Plantation Holding PTPN III (Persero) to carry out food transformation. One of the steps taken was by conducting a complete restructuring of the PTPN Group sugar business. It is hoped that this will support the acceleration of sugar self-sufficiency for food sovereignty, as well as encourage the realization of new and renewable energy (EBT). SOE Minister Erick Thohir said, one of the government's priority programs under the leadership of President Joko Widodo, has always emphasized ecosystem development, where Indonesia must be able to overcome dependence on world supply chains, especially for the food and energy sectors. "Mr. President always pushes for solutions. And because of that we are now continuing to push how the downstream sugar industry has become a reality and not just a plan," said Erick, in the Kick off of the National Sugar Industry Revitalization for Food and Energy Security, in Mojokerto, East Java, Monday (10/10/2022). The event was attended by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif, Head of BPKP Muhammad Yusuf Ateh, Member VII BPK Hendra Susanto, Deputy Minister of SOEs I Pahala Mansury, President Director of PTPN III Nusantara Plantation Holdings Mohammad Abdul Ghani, Pertamina President Director Nicke Widyawati and Mojokerto Regency Regent Ikfina Fatmawati.
The inauguration marks the start of the organizational restructuring of the PTPN Group through the establishment of PT Sinergi Gula Nusantara (SGN) which will play a major role in supporting food and energy security. "The establishment of PT SGN proves that BUMN is ready to build a business ecosystem in the midst of uncertainty in the food industry and globally," he said. Erick said that the transformation from Holding Perkebunan Nusantara had actually gone well. The establishment of PT Sinergi Gula Nusantara (SugarCo), PT Sinergi Sawit Nusantara (PalmCo), and PT Aset Manajemen Nusantara (SupportingCo), said Erick, is part of a National Strategic Project that is continuously monitored by the government. "This is a commitment from the state to ensure that the three projects can run well," he said. PT SGN or SugarCO, is a manifestation of the acceleration of business transformation in Holding Perkebunan Nusantara which comes from the merger of the assets of sugarcane plantation companies belonging to the PTPN Group, namely PTPN II, PTPN VII, PTPN IX, PTPN X, PTPN XI, PTPN XII and PTPN XIV. The acceleration of national sugar self-sufficiency is carried out for a number of purposes, namely ensuring national food security, ensuring the availability of raw materials and industrial auxiliary materials, and encouraging the improvement of the welfare of sugarcane farmers. In addition, the increase in national sugarcane production is also expected to be accompanied by an increase in sugarcane-based bioethanol production in the context of energy security, and the implementation of clean energy through the use of biofuels. As per the Regulation of the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Number 9 of 2022 concerning Changes to the List of National Strategic Projects (PSN), the Government has included the integration of the Nusantara Plantation Group through the establishment of SugarCo, PalmCo, and SupportingCo into the list of National Strategic Projects (PSN) in 2022. "Following the regulation, we have prepared an action plan, achievement, and follow-up to the integration of PTPN Group, particularly through SugarCo, in order to achieve self-sufficiency in consumption sugar by 2028 and industrial sugar by 2030, improve the welfare of sugarcane farmers through increased productivity and yields, also maintain the stock of consumption sugar for price stabilization," said Director of Holding Perkebunan Nusantara PTPN III (Persero), Mohammad Abdul Ghani.
SugarCo, continued Abdul Ghani, is a manifestation of the acceleration of business transformation in plantation and forestry cluster holdings, in addition to PalmCo and SupportingCo. As the sole entity of the 36 sugar mills (PG) owned by PTPN Group, SugarCo will become the largest sugar company in Indonesia with a projected development of national sugarcane land in collaboration with Perhutani and sugarcane farmers to reach 700 thousand hectares in 2030. Abdul Ghani said that in 2021 the national white crystal sugar (GKP) production will be 2.35 million tons with the national sugar consumption needs of 3.12 million tons. Thus, the remaining national sugar needs had to be met through imports of 1.04 million tons equivalent to GKP. However, Abdul Ghani is optimistic that if SugarCo already has the targeted land area, it will be able to control 60%-70% of the national sugar market. "Thus, it is hoped that it will eliminate sugar imports which have been a problem and concern for sugarcane farmers," he said. According to Abdul Ghani, in line with the increase in sugar productivity, both intensification and extensification, it will increase the potential for sugarcane-based bioethanol production with a target of 1.2 million kiloliters in 2030. This is important to substitute the need for imported crude oil that can be used for an environmentally friendly vehicle energy mix. PTPN Group's steps in developing bioethanol are in line with the sustainable energy transition which is one of the priority agendas of the G-20 in Bali, in addition to global health architecture and digital transformation. "Of course, this will provide an alternative for the country to reduce the burden of dependence on fossil fuel imports, which will also lead to national security in the energy sector," he said. On the same occasion, the President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero), Nicke Widyawati, stated that Pertamina was ready to work together to support the use and testing of biofuels. "The trial of using E5 biofuel is a form of Pertamina's commitment to continue the transition to new and renewable energy (EBT) which is more environmentally friendly and sustainable," he said. In the Kick off of Revitalizing the National Sugar Industry for Food and Energy Security, in Mojokerto, Erick Thohir conducted a review and dialogue with farmers at PTPN X's Temugiring Gardens and witnessed the process of harvesting mechanized sugarcane using a cane harvester and planting mechanized sugarcane with a cane planter in the demoplot area with seeds. high-yielding variety NX04 released by the Jengkol Sugar Research Center PTPN X.
