Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Chief of the presidential staff Teten Masduki said President Joko Widodo on Monday received reports of a sharp increase in the domestic consumption of cement signaling the brisker development of the property and infrastructure sectors.

"The domestic consumption of cement rose sharply since August," Teten told reporter after accompanying President Director of PT Semen Indonesia  Suparni  and chairman of the Indonesian Cement Association (ASI)Widodo Santosa to meet the president at the presidential office here.

He said the country's cement consumption in August 2015 totaled 5.4 million tons  or up 17.8 percent from the same months in 2014.

The consumption in the first eight months of this year totaled 37.4 million tons   or 0.1 percent higher year-on-year.

The consumption in the remaining four months of this year is estimated to rise 4-6 percent on-year, that altogether the total consumption in 2015 would reach 61.98 million tons  or 2 percent  higher than  59.9 million tons in 2014.

"It would be a good signal," he said.

Teten  said 75 percent of the cement consumption is for the property sector and 25 percent for infrastructure.  

"This indicates the start of infrastructure development  and an improvement  in the purchasing power of the people," he said.

He hoped that cement consumption would continue to rise until the end of the years boosted by growing demand from infrastructure sector.

"The rise in cement consumption also indicates stronger growth of the economy," he said.

ASI chairman Widodo Santosa said he was worried  when cement consumption declined 1 percent in the first quarter of this year.

He also hoped that the improving trend would continue through next year as infrastructure development would be accelerated.

"Next year consumption would increase if infrastructure development would brisker as expected," he said.

Widodo said   supply would not fall short of requirement as the domestic production capacity is more than enough to meet demand especially as  there are four new factories to come on stream.  

"The four new factories of  Bosowa, Holcim, Merah Putih  and  Panasea have a production capacity of 11 million tons to add to the country's total capacity," he said.

He said  Indonesia  would be the largest cement producer  in Southeast Asia in 2017 if all new cement factories have come on line.

President Director of  PT Semen Indonesia Suparni  said with the increase in the domestic consumption of cement, the factories of his company could operate normally.

"No more factory would lie idle," the president of the the state owned cement maker said.

PT Semen Indonesia has a number of subsidiaries including  PT Semen Gresik, PT Semen Padang  and  PT Semen Tonasa. (WDY)

Pewarta: ANTARA News

Editor : Edy M Yakub


COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2015