JAKARTA, Feb 4 Asia Pulse - Plantation company PT Makin Group will investRp400 billion (US$47.6 million) to open 20,000 hectares of new oil palmplantations in East Kalimantan this year, a local official said.

Head of the East Kalimantan Plantation Office Ismet Brakbah said thecompany has a program to build 100,000 hectares of oil palm plantations infive years to start with 20,000 hectares this year.

Work already is in progress in two districts namely Bulungan and Berauwhere 40,000 hectares will be built in five years.

Ismet said East Kalimantan already has 200,000 hectares of oil palmplantations and it hopes to have 1 million hectares under its long termplan.

(ANTARA)