WEST PAPUA – The Southwest Papua Provincial Government strongly supports the plan to build a nickel smelter and steelmaking plant in the Sorong Special Economic Zone (SEZ) by Chinese investors. Governor’s Expert Staff for Economics, Finance and Development George Yarangga in Sorong explained that the Government’s support for the presence of investors to invest in the Sorong Special Economic Zone is certainly very important to encourage economic growth and at the same time optimize the Sorong Special Economic Zone which has been given a warning by the Central Government.
Acting Governor of Southwest Papua Muhammad Musa’ad has committed that the Sorong Special Economic Zone can be optimized to increase economic growth in the Papua region and as a concrete effort for the development, the Southwest Papua Government together with the Sorong Regency Government and the President Director of PT Sheng Wei New Energy Tecnology Mr. Ru Guo Sheng, President Director of Perusda PT Malamoi Olom Wobok and Director of PT Sino Consultant Investment Indonesia Adriana Imelda Daat have held a limited meeting in Sorong City to discuss preparations for the groundbreaking plan for the construction of a smelter plant in the Sorong Special Economic Zone, this is a great opportunity for the Sorong Special Economic Zone to grow and develop in a better direction, and the Southwest Papua Provincial Government and the Sorong Regency Government are collaborating to prepare everything that is required for the smelter construction.
President Director of PT Sino Consultant Investment Indonesia Adriana Imelda Daat said the construction of the two large factories by PT Sheng Wei New Energy Technology and one other Chinese company swallowed a budget of IDR 75 trillion which was an investment from Chinese companies. Adriana as the President Director of the consulting company has actually brought investors since 2023, but the arrival of investors this time, more to see the latest conditions related to the availability of raw materials and supporting facilities for the construction of the two factories in the Sorong Special Economic Zone. Adriana admitted that from the results of the review in the Sorong Special Economic Zone, the investor had confirmed that the area was suitable as a place to invest.
The need for labor in the two factories that will be built in the Sorong Special Economic Zone, as many as 3000 people who will be accepted in stages. Indigenous Papuans are mostly recruited to work in the Sorong Special Economic Zone, and Adriana believes that the construction of a nickel smelter plant and steelmaking plant will be able to improve the regional economy and open up jobs for thousands of people, especially Indigenous Papuans.
Director of PT Sheng Wei New Energy Technology Mr. Ru Guo Sheng as an investor from China admitted that he was very happy for the warm welcome of the Indonesian Government for his party to invest in the Sorong Special Economic Zone, and by carrying out the green economy program, the entire investment process with the Sorong Regency Government and the Southwest Papua Provincial Government could run according to plan to increase economic growth in the region.
Previously, investors conducted a review of the Sorong Special Economic Zone on March 15, 2024 to see closely the readiness of infrastructure that will be used as a supporting facility for the construction of smelters and steel mills, a number of points visited, including the Sorong Special Economic Zone port area, the Sorong Regency PLTG area and the Sea Port owned by PT Petro Sea Sorong which is planned to be used as a temporary supporting facility in the construction of smelters and steel mills with an investment value of trillions of rupiah.