In a strategic move to bolster Indonesia’s sugar and bioethanol production, President Joko Widodo, commonly known as Jokowi, has authorized the formation of a dedicated Task Force (Satgas) for the Acceleration of Sugar and Bioethanol Self-Sufficiency in Merauke District, South Papua. Heading this crucial initiative is Minister of Investment Bahlil Lahadalia, appointed as the task force’s chairperson.
The establishment of the Sugar and Bioethanol Task Force is delineated in Presidential Decree (Keppres) Number 15 of 2024, signed by President Joko Widodo on April 19, 2024, as per records from the Official Gazette of the Cabinet Secretariat.
Article 1 of the decree stipulates the formation of the task force to expedite integrated sugarcane plantation investment activities with the sugar, bioethanol, and biomass power generation industries, necessitating facilitation, coordination, and business licensing for entrepreneurs.
“For the acceleration of integrated sugarcane plantation investment with the sugar and bioethanol industries through the national strategic project mechanism and/or special economic zone, it is necessary to establish a Task Force,” the decree states.
The tasks assigned to this Task Force include:
Inventorying and identifying issues, as well as collecting necessary data and documents to expedite sugar and bioethanol self-sufficiency.
Facilitating the availability of land suitable for sugarcane cultivation.
Coordinating land administration resolution for lands acquired through forest area release mechanisms and/or land acquisition.
Facilitating entrepreneurs in meeting basic requirements and business licensing for the acceleration of sugarcane plantation development integrated with industries.
Facilitating the provision of investment facilities required by entrepreneurs for the acceleration of integrated sugarcane plantation development with industries, along with supporting facilities and infrastructure.
Coordinating and synergizing between ministries/agencies and local governments to expedite business licensing and investment facility provision needed by entrepreneurs for the acceleration of integrated sugarcane plantation development with industries, including supporting facilities and infrastructure.
Facilitating ministries/agencies, local governments, and entrepreneurs in empowering local communities around integrated sugarcane plantation locations with industries.
The establishment of this Task Force is asserted as the implementation of Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 40 of 2023 concerning the Acceleration of National Sugar Self-Sufficiency and the Provision of Bioethanol as Vegetable Fuel (Biofuel), as well as President Jokowi’s directives during the Internal Meeting on Accelerating Sugar and Bioethanol Self-Sufficiency on December 12, 2023.
Keppres 15/2024 specifies that all necessary expenses for the Task Force’s operations are sourced from the State Budget of the Ministry of Investment/Investment Coordinating Board and/or other legitimate sources as per statutory regulations.
