Cenderawasih Pos – Friday, March 27th, 2015
PANGKALAN BUN- Governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe, SIP, MH, is apparently not only focus on smelter or mine, but also in forestry sector. Lukas intends to develop Timber Plantations (HTI) in efforts to protect natural forest in Papua and gives contribution to the community and the local government.
Therefore, Lukas Enembe and his team, including the Head of Forestry Department, Papua Province, Jan Jap L Ormuseray, S.H, MSi, the Head of Energy and Mineral Department of Papua, Ir. Bangun Manurung, M.Plan, the Head of Forest Planning Department of Papua, Estiko, and the Head of Government Affairs Korindo Jayapura, Tulus Sianipar, visited HTI area of PT Korintiga Hutani, Korindo Group in Pangkalan Bun, West Kotawaringin, Central Kalimantan, for 2 days, March 25-26th, 2015.
During the visit, the governor was accompanied by the Managing Director of Korindo Group, Kim Hoon, to HTI wood processing mills, including integrated industry which generates energy supply developed by Korindo called Biomass Power plant in Pangkalan Bun. It could generate 7.2 MW of electricity, half of which was sold to PLN. Moreover, they observed the HTI plantation area, as well as acasia, eucalyptus and red jabon nursery which have been developed by Korindo and predicted to become the first industrial timber forest in the world with rapid growth.
The Governor was excited to see that the forestation was carried out continuously in this plantation area, including the nursery which was operated professionally. “We just saw the development of HTI in Pangkalan Bun, managed by PT Korintiga Hutani of Korindo Group. We wish we could implement it in Papua, as we can see that the land structures in this area and Merauke are the same,” said Governor Lukas to Cendrawasih Pos.
Therefore, Papua has to be encouraged to develop HTI because not only it is useful to protect the natural and industrial forest of Papua, it could also be developed so the idle lands in Papua can be used by HTI. HTI is capable to absorb thousands of workers, including local workers from Papua, so it is beneficial to vicinity community and the regions. Moreover, we can also produce alternative energy from woods or biomass power plant.
“Papua has a lot of timbers, so we should utilize it as renewable energy from timbers which has been developed by Korindo Group for years in Pangkalan Bun, West Kotawaringi,” he said.
According to him, this HTI-integrated electrical energy will be very suitable in Papua. Especially now when Papua can no longer rely on natural forest, because it could be damaged. Therefore, we must preserve and protect these natural forests by developing industrial forest that can be beneficial for the local community and the local government.
“We agreed that if we could get area of 15 thousand ha in Keerom, we would ask permission for Korindo, specifically for the energy industry,” he said.
Korindo Group will apply for the permit in the near future. After they get the permit, they will be able to address the needs of electricity for Papua, especially to prepare for PON 2020, by relying on the energy produced by the plantations.
The government has issued many permits for investors, but many of them who are not committed to the development. The Governor confirmed that many concessions owned by investors were not utilized.
On the top of that, the provincial government has proposed revocation of license of 13 companies, which some of them have been repealed. Therefore, he expects for unproductive concessions to be revoked and be given to other investors who truly intend to realize them. It is expected that the HTI development can utilize the unproductive lands.
“We would like to invite investors to develop this HTI industry, so we could prepare the land and begin the development. We have many potential timbers, so why not make energy out of it?” he said.
The Governor expects Papua to be an example throughout Indonesia for the HTI development, including the integration with the biomass power plant or electricity.
“If the documents requested are corresponding with the current regulation from the Ministry of Forestry and can be completed, I think we can develop HTI of Jabon Merah, or other plants, in the border area of Boven Digoel,” he said.
Regarding the number of complaints related to the period of licensing process which can take for years, the Governor acknowledges that the licensing process in the forestry sector is quite long. He cites Korindo Group who takes up to 6 years, but still has not been realized. Moreover, there are many new regulations from the ministry, many changes. Therefore, it will be more complicated.
The Governor, Lukas Enembe, said that, in fact, with the authority over the proposed bill of Autonomy Plus, it can shorten the bureaucracy for the permit. But, up to now, it has not been included in the national legislation. In fact, if it becomes law, we no longer need a long bureaucratic. We just need to apply in the district level.
He admits that the forestry issue is still a matter of debate, mainly related to illegal logging, which still happen everywhere. The Governor expects that the Ministry of Environment and Forestry pay attention to this seriously. Not only make a regulation, but take an assertive action.
He demands for the reconstitution of tougher Sustainable Forest Operation Task Force, such as the imposition of the illegal fishing perpetrators and sink the ships carrying illegal timber. “We should just sink the ships carrying illegal timber to make them wary. In addition to the sustainable forest operation, a assertive actions are needed, because illegal logging continues to rage in Papua. Although there are rules, it is still happening,” he said. (Bat / nat)
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