Indonesia's state-owned fertilizer company,PT Pupuk Indonesia, has officially commenced construction of the country’s first soda ash (sodium carbonate) factory in Bontang, East Kalimantan, marking a major step toward reducing Indonesia’s dependence on imports. With an investment of IDR 5 trillion (approximately US$300 million), the facility—first conceptualized three decades ago—is designed to process 105 thousand tons of ammonia annually and utilize 174 thousand tons of excess CO₂, contributing to lower emissions. In addition to soda ash, the plant will produce ammonium chloride, which can be used directly as fertilizer or in NPK formulations, supporting national food security efforts. Scheduled for completion in March 2028, the factory will have a production capacity of 300 thousand tons per year and include extensive storage infrastructure. The project is expected to create 800 jobs during construction and employ 86 people once operational. PT Pupuk Indonesia’s President Director, Rahmad Pribadi, emphasized the strategic importance of domestic production, noting that Indonesia imported over 800 thousand tons of soda ash and more than 300 thousand tons of ammonium chloride in 2024. He stressed that local manufacturing will help reduce foreign exchange losses and strengthen key sectors such as palm oil agriculture.Source: https://en.antaranews.com/news/389177/indonesia-begins-construction-of-first-soda-ash-plant (ICE GIACARTA)

Fonte notizia: ANTARA NEWS, 31 October 2025