5/12/05 JAKARTA, (Asia Pulse) - Central Kalimantan hopes to produce at least 1 million tons of crude palm oil (CPO) in 2006, up from an estimated 800,000 tons in 2005.

The province has 23 palm oil processing plants altogether with a total production capacity of 1.3 million tons, the Central Kalimantan branch of the association of the palm oil companies said.

Central Kalimantan has 400,000 hectare of oil palm plantations operated by 112 companies.

Based on data at the Central Bureau of Statistic Central Kalimantan produced 400,000 tons of CPO in 2003, up to 600,000 tons in 2004 and to an estimated 800,000 tons in 2005.

Indonesia, the world's second largest producer of CPO after Malaysia, produces around 11 million tons of the commodity a year. (ANTARA)