Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia visited Merauke, South Papua, on Friday, May 17, 2024 to review the progress of the Acceleration of Sugar and Bioethanol Self-Sufficiency project in the regency.

"There was MIFEE (Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate) program which has ended in a failure several times. I don't want this one [Acceleration of Sugar and Bioethanol Self-Sufficiency project] to suffer the same fate," Bahlil told reporters in Merauke after conducting aerial monitoring of the Sugar and Bioethanol Self-Sufficiency locations.

He cited that one of the reasons for the failure of similar projects in the past was the unavailability of sugarcane variety seeds that are suitable for the soil conditions in Merauke.

"It turns out that one of the fundamental problems is the seeds. It's not just about the area or the land, it's about what seeds are suitable (for the soil here)," the minister said.

He, therefore, appreciated the seriousness of land concession companies that have built Research and Development (R&D) centers related to seeds seriously.

"I just saw how they work so carefully. Anyone entering the lab and the nursery must take off their shoes, clean their hands and apply hand sanitizer," Bahlil said.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo signed Presidential Decree No. 15/2024 on the Task Force for the Acceleration of Sugar and Bioethanol Self-Sufficiency in Merauke Regency, South Papua Province, on April 19, 2024. Bahlil was appointed as Chairman of the Task Force.

The Task Force aims to accelerate the integration of plantation investment activities with the sugar industry, bioethanol, and biomass power plants in the regency.