IFA Annual Conference 2023 Petrokimia Gresik Received Appreciation For Handling & Commercialization Of Gypsum From International Fertilizer Association (IFA)

Petrokimia Gresik, an Agroindustrial Solutions company subsidiary of Pupuk Indonesia, was selected as a speaker at the International Fertilizer Association (IFA) Annual Conference 2023 Forum in Prague, Czech Republic, for the handling and commercialization of gypsum assessed successful and line with IFA principles to precipitate the concept of ABG (Academic, Business, Government) Collaboration in producing a circular economy, Wednesday (24/5).

President Director of Petrokimia Gresik, Dwi Satriyo Annurogo said that this opportunity was a form of IFA's appreciation for Petrokimia Gresik's innovation program in gypsum management and commercialization, where Petrokimia Gresik continues to make continuous improvements to gypsum which is a by-product of the Phosphoric Acid Plant.

"In the middle of the presentation, Mr. Volker Andresen who served as Technical Director of Sustainability IFA also immediately expressed his appreciation for this Petrokimia Gresik innovation. Of course, this is a motivation for us to produce the next innovations, "said Dwi Satriyo.

Continuous improvement of gypsum, which is also an effort to preserve the environment, is carried out by Petrokimia Gresik through several types of gypsum utilization into products that have added value and have obtained a Decree of Gypsum B3 Waste Exemption Number 238/MenLHK/Setjen/PLB3/5/2021 by the Minister of Environment and Forestry in 2021.

"With this exception, the utilization of gypsum in Petrokimia Gresik is even more optimal. Petrokimia Gresik can turn gypsum, which was originally a cost center, into a profit center," said Dwi Satriyo.

There are three strategies implemented by Petrokimia Gresik in utilizing gypsum. First, as a raw material for gypsum purification. The utilization of gypsum into purified gypsum reaches 1,100,000 tons per year with a circular economy value of 80 million US dollars annually.

Second, Petrokimia Gresik gypsum is optimized to be the raw material for Petrokimia Gresik soil improvement products under the PetroCAS trademark. The utilization of gypsum as raw material for PetroCAS in Petrokimia Gresik amounts to 300,000 tons per year with a circular economy reaching 21 million US dollars.

Finally, Petrokimia Gresik gypsum is also used to produce ZA fertilizer which is widely used as an agroinput in sugarcane plantations. The use of ZA fertilizer is proven to be able to increase sugar yield in sugarcane plants.

"The total utilization of gypsum as raw material for ZA fertilizer is 200,000 tons per year with a circular economy reaching 23 million US dollars," said Dwi Satriyo.

The successful commercialization of gypsum carried out by Petrokimia Gresik is the result of collaboration between Petrokimia Gresik and academics and also the Government in circular economy efforts.

"As part of Pupuk Indonesia and SOEs as well as driving the nation's economy that contributes to the creation of a circular economy, Petrokimia Gresik is committed to continuing to make efforts to reduce emissions greenhouse gases to realize the efforts of the Long-term Strategy on Low Carbon and Climate Resilience 2050 (LTS-LCCR 2050) by utilizing by-products," he concluded.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Annual Conference is one of the sessions at IFA Phosphogypsum Working Group 11th Annual Meeting. The activity with the theme "From Waste to Inventory" presented speakers with the best innovative material in the management of by-products from various parts of the world, including Indonesia.