By: Dede August )*
Discussion about the Masela Project seemingly never-ending. It was of course, as the process while running and will start to be built. Various preparations have been carried out by the central government and the Mollucas Province government that will host this project. However, wherever the management will be built onshore, local government and local communities should be aware that Masela Project require supporting components.
The Indonesian Coordinator Minister of Maritime simultaneously caretaker The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Luhut Binsar Panjaitan has stressed that the development process should be accelerated because of the Masela Masela deadlines operations began in 2024. “Earlier we had been discussing (Masela Project), we want the process speeded up,” said Luhut, in the Office of The Coordinator Minister of Maritime, Jakarta, Monday (5/9). As for acceleration, namely the environmental impact assessment (EIA) from 3 years to 1,5 years and the Plan of Development (PoD) also accelerated eight months ahead of that targeted to be completed in 2018.
With the emphasis on the acceleration, local governments, especially counties / cities that will host the management of onshore must immediately get up and prepare everything. Not only prepare the qualified human resources (HR) and various supporting infrastructure, but also prepared a variety of other supporting components which are sometimes overlooked. What are they? Of course there are so many things, one of which is food component as the main need of the workers later.
So, the local government or local communities around the Masela Project should actually be able to take this opportunity. Later, there will definitely be a lot of workers who come in that location, of course, they need food that cannot be provided by himself. Here, one opportunity for local people to earn a profit and does not have to be a direct part of the Masela Block.
Local communities can prepare and maximize their agricultural production, such as vegetables, fruits, and other basic necessities. Moreover discourse circulating, the Masela Project takes at least 800 thousand employees, surely the need for food is also increasing in the area. Instead of relying on imported products from other areas that the price will be more expensive, it is better local governments and communities together to maximize farm in that area.
During this time, the location of onshore management Masela is not yet confirmed, and there are some districts insisted wanted it, as Regency of West Southeast Maluku and Southwest Maluku. Although uncertain, with a high potential for absorption of food needs, there is no harm in these areas from now in order to maximize the field of agriculture. So, do not let the various needs to support the Masela Project actually imported from other district or from the outside of Maluku Province.
