Mentawai Potentially To Produce Salt: Observer

id Mentawai Potentially To Produce Salt: Observer

Mentawai Potentially To Produce Salt: Observer

Illustration. Salt. (Antara)

Padang, (Antara Sumbar) - Marital observer from Andalas University, West Sumatra, Dr Indra Junaidi said Mentawai Islands potentially to produce salt because it has long coastline and has not been utilized optimally.

This potential should be utilized by the local government to hook the private sector to build salt industry in Mentawai, he said in Padang, Friday (Sept 15).

He mentioned that the length of Mentawai Islands coastline reaches 1,637 kilometers, salt production in the area is quite potential to be worked on.

Moreover, the salinity level dissolved in water in the area averages 35 to 37 per mile, the amount is good enough for salt production.

"If the government is willing to take this seriously, people can make a salt mine even though it is not in large scale," he said.

Earlier, Indra said there was already talk about the potential of salt with local government, but there has been no further development in its implementation.

Then, he said, for the development of salt production, there are some things that must be considered including clean location, does not in a place of tourism and there does not much activity that damages sea water quality.

In addition to the Mentawai Islands, he said other areas also has similar potential such as West Pasaman, northern Pariaman, Agam, and South Pesisir.

"For the city of Padang is less recommended because almost all coastal beach activities are used for tourism," he explained.

If some areas in West Sumatra produce salt, he said, the need of salt will be fulfilled thoroughly, even it can be sent outside the province.

"Then salt from West Sumatra also has potential to fulfill the needs of salt consumption in Riau Islands and Jambi," he said. (cha)

Editor: Vicha Faradika