Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reiterated that the high industrial gas price in Indonesia has affected the competitiveness of its products. "When gas has a major portion in production cost structure, then the price will significantly affect the competitiveness of our products in the world market. We lose the competition because of the high gas price," the President said at the cabinet session on gas adequacy for industry in Jakarta on Monday.

Gas should not only be seen as a commodity but as a capital of development that would also strengthen the national industry, according to Jokowi.

Six industries relied on domestic gas production namely power generator, chemical industry, food, ceramic, steel, and fertilizer industry, the President said.

The President has ordered ministries and state enterprises to calculate the gas price for the industry that could boost the competitiveness of domestic products.

"Let us see thoroughly the cause of the high gas price, from its upstream sector in the gas field to channeling cost, transmission cost, and to its downstream sector at the level of the distributor," Jokowi noted.

The President has also asked for reports on the implementation of Presidential Regulation no. 40/2016 on the natural gas price to study the potential hindrance to the industry.

In October 2019, the government aborted the proposal of PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk to increase the gas prices for the industrial sector. Earlier, the state-owned producer and distributor planned to implement the new prices on Nov 1, 2019.

At present, the selling price of gas for the industry is around US$7 – $10 per MMBTU.  (ANTARA)

The Indonesian  government is looking for an investment of nearly Rp89.6 trillion in stages in the three special economic zones (SEZs) established through government regulations (PP). "We will evaluate the target every year," Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Susiwijono said in Jakarta, Monday, after submitting a copy of the PP to the relevant regional government and business entities proposing three SEZs, namely Singhasari in East Java, Kendal in Central Java and Likupang in North Sulawesi.

The evaluation was conducted through the National Council of Special Economic Zones covering the achievement targets and the development process, he said.

The development of the three new SEZs by 2024-2025 will absorb tens of thousands of workers and is expected to drive the regional economy and society, Susiwijono explained.

The investment target in the Singhasari Special Economic Zone reached Rp12.5 trillion by employing 6,863 people with businesses such as tourism and the digital economy being rolled out, he revealed.

The special economic zone is expected to become a center for digital economic development by cooperating with several multinational technology companies such as Amazon, IBM, Apple, and Google. The operator of the special economic zone will work with several leading universities in the world.

Meanwhile, the Likupang Special Economic Zone has a gradual investment target of around Rp7.1 trillion, which is engaged in the tourism sector, and can attract around 400 thousand tourists, he said.

The Likupang Special Economic Zone would absorb around 65 thousand workers both directly and indirectly, he estimated.

The Kendal Special Economic Zone has a gradual investment target of around Rp70 trillion with estimated employment of 20 thousand people.

The government targeted the Kendal Special Economic Zone to realize the value of exports in the first year or 2021 of at least US$500 million and import substitution of at least $250 million, he said.

To date, the government has established 15 special economic zones consisting of nine for industry and six for tourism.

Of the 15, 11 of which have operated or have served investors.

The total investment commitment reached Rp88.7 trillion until 2019 from the 11 special economic zones that had been operated with a workforce absorption of around 8,686 people, Susiwijono said.

President Joko Widodo had previously approved the establishment of three new special economic zones through Government Regulation (PP) No. 68 of 2019 for the Singhasari special economic zones in Malang Regency, East Java).

Then there was PP Number 85 Year 2019 for the Kendal special economic zones in Central Java, and PP Number 84 Year 2019 for Likupang special economic zones in North Minahasa District, North Sulawesi. (ANTARA)

Video screen shoot of KRI Tjiptadi-381 drove out Chinese coast guard trespassed into Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in Natuna Waters, Riau Islands on Dec 30, 2019 (ANTARA)

Five Indonesian Military vessels (KRI) secure Riau Islands' Natuna Waters over foreign ships guarded by Chinese coast guard, Tanjungpinang IV Naval Main Base Information Center (Dispen Lantamal IV) Chief, Naval Mayor Saul Jamlaay stated.

"Three KRIs have been stationed in Natuna for a few days, and today, two KRIs from Jakarta have arrived in Natuna," he remarked in Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands, on Saturday.

He highlighted that the situation in Natuna remains conducive, and all vessels from China have been driven out of the Natuna Waters.

In addition to the military vessels, security measures were undertaken using maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

"At the moment, the condition remains conducive. However, tight security measures are still being taken on the Natuna waters," he stated.

He further noted that the Tanjungpinang IV Naval Main Base had offered logistical aid in conducting security operations in Natuna. Ranai Naval Base was directly involved in securing the Natuna Waters.

"There are no personnel from Lantamal IV, but we help with the logistics," he remarked.

He emphasized that the state was concerned over the issue of ships from China entering Natuna and that the Lantamal IV /Tanjungpinang had given special attention to this cause for concern since quite some time.

"We pay special attention to security in the border areas, including in Natuna," he added. (ANTARA)

A dead pilot whale washed ashore in South Gorontalo beach on Jan 3, 2020 (ANTARA)

A dead pilot whale washed ashore on South Gorontalo beach, Tolotio Village, Bone Sub-district, Bone Bolango District, Gorontalo Province, Sulawesi Island, on Saturday.

When local villagers found the 4-5 meter-long whale at around 5 a.m. local time, the animal was still alive.

"But when the sea water receded, the whale's body hit a coral reef. And we noticed that the whale was later dead," Tolotio Village Chief Marlen Hamdata said.

Several local villagers had tried to save the whale by pushing it back into the waters. They, however, failed to do so because the waters receded and the whale was too heavy.

Pilot whales are known to locals as "Pau Pausu", and are rarely found stranded on the coast.

Rescue efforts to save stranded mammals such as whales, dolphins and dugongs require a special method, according to the Makassar Marine Coastal Resource Management Center (BPSPL). Last year, a dead sperm whale washed ashore in Southeast Sulawesi Province, with a large lump of plastic waste in its stomach, including flip-flops and 115 drinking cups.

Rescuers from Wakatobi national marine park found the rotting carcass of the 9.5 metre (31ft) sperm whale near the park after receiving a report from environmentalists that villagers had surrounded the dead whale and were beginning to butcher the rotting carcass, park chief Heri Santoso said. (ANTARA)