Bali is waiting for shipment allocation of 8000-ton sugar from Jakarta, those sugar mafia utilized with their black-market line that is sugar delivery through Ketapang-Gilimanuk. Transporting the sugar with a rice truck where the sugar was below the rice.

In other side, responded that sugar smuggling from East Java, head of Bali Trading and Industrial Division, Gede Darmaja said that he does not know that smuggling activity yet and will proceed to solve it. “Perhaps due to the high price of sugar in Bali make them bring out sugar supply in Java to Bali,” he said.

Considering sugar consumption in Bali itself, Darmaja said that in one month it could reached more than 5000-ton. 3500-ton consumed by the local people while the remaining 2000-ton was for household industry as well as for hotels.

Sugar crisis was the first time to be happened in Indonesia and in this 2010 is the most serios crisis ever happened in addition to the same thing also happened all around the world.

In relation with the East Java Governor’s bill regarding a prohibition of their sugar production cross outs the province territory make some sugar order from Bali distributor could not entering Bali. Moreover, some sugar transporter truck ordered by Bali distributor had to turn around since they prohibited by the East Java police officer to cross to Bali.

In other hand, Disperindag – Industrial and Trading Division – of Bali province on Wednesday (January 20) in the evening invited Asosiasi Distributor Gula – Sugar Distribution Association – from Jakarta to discuss that sugar problem since it appear as the worst crisis ever happened. Darmaja further said that the condition of sugar distribution to Bali had become a problem since the bill from East Java Governor to prohibit his sugar production goes out his territory and he also viewed that rule as unreasonable due to the fact that the regulation also dedicated to PT. PN 11 as a national sugar distributor company, what should be prohibited goes out their territory is their 10.000 ton import sugar from central instead of restricted the distribution from PT. PN 11.

That regulation cause some sugar transporter trucks for Bali destination could not across and they done as far as ordered those trucks to get back to their factory. “Lot of our sugars detained despite the fact that those sugar had been paid fully by the sugar distributor in Bali before the regulation from East Java governor issued,” he said.

Meanwhile, according to the sugar import supply ordered by the government to the sugar exporter countries such as India and Vietnam for about 500.000 ton of sugar order merely 95.000 ton that realized. It means that not merely Indonesia under gone sugar crisis but it also happened worldwide. Then from 95.000-ton sugar import merely 8.000 ton is dedicated for Bali whilst NTB get 9500 ton.

“8000-ton sugar supply for Bali probably will arrive in the end of this month and predicted will fulfill the needs for sugar in next three months,” explained Darmaja.

Besides, until today his party valued that there is no such sugar hoarding action by the trader as well as sugar distributor. Considering sugar smuggling case who succeeded across from East Java, Darmaja said that he did not know about that activity and immediately will proceeds that case. Regarding sugar consumption in Bali, in one month it reached 5.000 ton sugar. From NusaBali observation itself, sugar transportation from East Java to Bali keep happened where they disguised it with rice truck.

One big scale trader who did not want his name mentioned confessed that he got the information about the termination of sugar supply from the mass media. Precisely the sugar supply in his warehouse had reduced since last week. “Last week we still could entering the port like usual,” he said.

Even though there was a prohibition concerning sugar supply, lot of big scale trader find their way to get some sugar supply from East Java. It is possible for them to get some supply from the east part of Indonesia but it will cost them more than get the supply form East Java. Consequently, it also can influence sugar price in Bali if they take it outside East Java.

Sugar crisis should have happened in Bali in recent days but since the big scale traders in Bali found a trick to get the supply from East Java makes its market still stable. The sugar comes from East Java was covered with rice or powder delivery. The security at Ketapang indeed is tighten up but not in Gilimanuk due to our urgent need with the sugar supply. When get asked about 8.000-ton sugar supply from central, that trader said that sugar demolition will cost time more than a day. Besides there is no traders could assist that sugar whose valued more than 80 billion Rupiah even the Bali government itself will find it not an easy job for them,” he explained.

News by Nusa Bali