In April 2024, President Joko Widodo issued Presidential Decree No. 15 of 2024 dated April 19, 2024, on the Task Force for Accelerating Sugar and Bioethanol Self-Sufficiency in Merauke Regency, South Papua Province. The Task Force was established to fast-track investment in integrated sugarcane plantations, linked to the sugar industry, bioethanol production, and biomass power plants.

Under the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Regulation (Permenko) No. 8 of 2023, dated November 14, 2023, which constitutes the Fourth Amendment to Permenko No. 7 of 2021 on the Revised List of National Strategic Projects (PSN), the Merauke Food and Energy Development Area in South Papua Province is officially included in the PSN list.

As Chair of the Task Force, Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia moved quickly, identifying around two million hectares of land in Merauke, South Papua, to be allocated for sugarcane plantations as part of the push toward sugar self-sufficiency.

This proposed two-million-hectare allocation far exceeds the plan outlined in the National Sugar Self-Sufficiency Acceleration Program and Bioethanol Provision for Biofuel, which targets the expansion of 700,000 hectares of new sugarcane plantations sourced from existing plantations, smallholder sugarcane land, and forest areas.

According to the roadmap set out in Presidential Regulation No. 20 of 2023, this large-scale mega project aims to boost bioethanol production to 1.2 million kiloliters. At the same time, the Indonesian government is targeting sugar imports of up to 5 million tons to meet demand and growth in the food and beverage industry.

The Merauke National Strategic Project has now become a major public concern, both locally and nationally, especially as the regional elections (Pilkada) draw closer.

In response, Yayasan Madani Berkelanjutan, Yayasan Pusaka Bentala Rakyat, and Greenpeace Indonesia are organizing a discussion titled:
“Who Benefits from the ‘Mega Project’? The National Strategic Project for Sugarcane Plantations and Bioethanol in Merauke”, which will take place on:

Thursday, June 27, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM (WIB)
Venue: YLBHI Office, Jl. Diponegoro No. 74, Central Jakarta
Live streaming: Bentala Rakyat YouTube channel

Speakers:

• Dian Patria – Head of Coordination & Supervision Task Force, Region IV, KPK

• Federika Korain – West Papuan Human Rights Lawyer & Peace Activist

• Faisal Basri – Senior Economist, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia

Moderator:
Wiko Saputra