Pemerintah Perkuat Peran Papua sebagai Kawasan Strategis Pangan, Energi, dan Antariksa

JAYAPURA - Pemerintah pusat mulai memetakan peran strategis Papua sebagai salah satu kawasan penyangga ketahanan pangan, energi, hingga pengembangan industri antariksa nasional.

Menteri Koordinator Bidang Pangan, Zulkifli Hasan mengatakan, pemerintah ingin mengakhiri ketergantungan Papua terhadap pasokan pangan dan energi dari Pulau Jawa karena tingginya biaya distribusi selama ini turut memengaruhi harga kebutuhan pokok di Papua.

"Kalau makanan atau solar harus dikirim dari Jakarta, ongkos angkutnya sangat mahal. Tidak adil jika masyarakat yang pendapatannya lebih rendah justru membayar harga yang lebih tinggi,”katanya.

Menurutnya, salah satu langkah yang kini dipercepat adalah pembangunan Zona Pangan, Energi, dan Air di Wanam, Kabupaten Merauke.

"Kami ingin Papua mandiri, baik dalam penyediaan pangan maupun energi, sehingga tidak lagi bergantung pada daerah yang jauh," sambung Zulkifli.

Ia menambahkan, seluruh usulan kepala daerah, mulai dari pembangunan irigasi, penyediaan pupuk, cetak sawah, hingga kebutuhan infrastruktur pertanian lainnya akan dibahas lebih lanjut dalam rapat bersama presiden sebagai bagian dari percepatan program ketahanan pangan nasional.

Di sisi lain, Biak juga dipersiapkan sebagai lokasi pembangunan fasilitas peluncuran roket nasional. Posisi geografis yang berada dekat garis khatulistiwa dinilai menjadi keunggulan kompetitif yang dimiliki Biak dibandingkan wilayah lain di Indonesia.

"Pembangunan fasilitas peluncuran roket di Biak akan dipercepat,” tutupnya. ***

JAYAPURA – The Indonesian Government has begun mapping Papua's strategic role as a key region for strengthening national food security, energy resilience, and the development of the country's space industry.

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan said the government aims to reduce Papua's dependence on food and energy supplies from Java, noting that high transportation costs have long contributed to the elevated prices of essential goods in the region.

"If food supplies or diesel fuel have to be transported from Jakarta, the shipping costs are extremely high. It is unfair that people with lower incomes end up paying higher prices," he said.

According to the Minister, one of the government's priority initiatives is the accelerated development of the Food, Energy, and Water Zone in Wanam, Merauke Regency.

"We want Papua to become self-sufficient in both food and energy production so that it no longer depends on supplies from distant regions," Zulkifli added.

He further explained that proposals submitted by regional governments—including irrigation development, fertilizer provision, the expansion of rice cultivation areas, and other agricultural infrastructure needs—will be discussed in an upcoming meeting with the President as part of efforts to accelerate the implementation of the national food security program.

In addition to food and energy development, the government is preparing Biak as the site for Indonesia's national rocket launch facility. Its geographical location near the equator is considered a significant competitive advantage over other locations in the country.

"The development of the rocket launch facility in Biak will be accelerated," Zulkifli concluded. ***