Rationalization of Electricity Program
Minister of energy and mineral resources Ignasius Jonan has just approved PLN’s Electricity Procurement Business Plan (RUPTL) for 2018-2027, which significantly cut procurement plan for new power generation in the period by 21,849 MW.
February Correction for Cement
Domestic cement consumption reached 4.79 million tons last month, grew 5.2% year-on-year, but slower than January. This was attributable to construction suspension of some major infrastructure projects following series of work accidents.
Food Security (6): Salt, Walk the Talk!
Salt is not only important for food and pharmaceuticals. It is main raw material for chlor alkaly plant (CAP) in the production chain of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin and plastics. Salt is also supporting material in the production of salted fish, leather, feed, textile, oil and gas drilling, soap and detergent.
Infrastructure Journal: More Public-Private Partnership
Responding to criticism about domination of state companies in infrastructure development, state port management company Pelindo III have on Monday (Mar 12) signed memorandum of understanding with three private groups—Adaro Energy, Djarum Group, and Sriboga Group—for the development of three ports in Java, Kalimantan, and East Nusa Tenggara.
The Case for Higher Cement Consumption
Indonesian Cement Association (ASI) predicted lower growth of domestic cement consumption this year. The association also predicted growth between 4% and 6% last year, but we all know domestic market grew by 7.6%. Will this year’s growth be faster than the business association’s prediction?
Better Q4 for SmartFren, But Sinarmas Should Dig Pocket Deeper
PT SmartFren Telecom (FREN) Tbk, controlled by Sinarmas Group, booked net loss of Rp3.02 trillion last year, expanded by 53% from 2016. The Company, however, reported better performance in the last quarter of 2017.
Digital Economy Attracts More
ASX-listed social media platform SportsHero announced this morning a landmark football partnership in Indonesia. The company engaged Jakarta’s IT, social network and telecommunications entrepreneur Tri Putra Permadi as official Indonesian football partner to ride on nearly 100 million active social media users in Indonesia.
Chandra Asri: Bracing for Falling Margins
Integrated petrochemical company Chandra Asri (TPIA) booked net profit of US$318.6 million last year, an increase of 6.2% from 2016 even though sales revenue grew 25% to US$2.42 billion. Higher average price of crude oil contributed to significant increase in naphtha, main raw material for olefins. Pressures intensified in the fourth quarter of 2017 and beyond.
Food Security (3): Corn
Corn is primarily composed of carbohydrates, but it is also a decent source of protein. It is consumed directly or processed into bakwan (corn fritter), mixed with other vegetables. In some areas of eastern part of Indonesia, corn is cooked with rice. In poultry feed, the largest segment of Indonesia’s animal feed industry, corn has an inclusion rate of around 50%, and accordingly very important for protein supply for the nation.
Infrastructure & Politics (4): Airport
Suara Merdeka, a newspaper published in Semarang, Central Java, reported few hours ago that some foreign airlines (Malaysia, China, and South Korea) have expressed interest to open direct flights to Ahmad Yani airport, which is being expanded. Semarang is an interesting gate to watch especially with near completion of the trans-Java toll road, which boosts access of tourists to destinations like Solo, Borobudur, and Yogyakarta.