North Sumatra Running Out of Sugar
Monday, 29 January, 2007 | 17:12 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Medan: Sugar stocks in North Sumatra Province have decreased even though there have been 6,000 tons of sugar imported.

The additional supplies were insufficient to meet the consumption needs of the 12.5 million inhabitants of the province.

Monthly sugar consumption at North Sumatra averages 17,000 tons, whereas the sugar stocks are only 18,400 tons.

“Despite the remaining 1,200 tons, it is certain that next month North Sumatra will experience a lack of sugar,” Rommel Sembiring, Head of the Industrial and Trade Agency of North Sumatra told Tempo, on Saturday (01/27).

According to him, the additional imported sugar next month will not be able to meet people's consumption needs.

Sugar supplies this month, said Sembiring, were taken from: the remainder of last year's sugar reserves of 8,400 tons; PTPN II sugar production of 4,000 tons; and imported sugar of 6,000 tons.

In order to secure people's needs, the provincial government has asked for additional imported sugar of 9,000 tons.

During 2007, North Sumatra will need sugar reserves of 150,000 tons.

SAHAT SIMATUPANG