4 minutes with… Dr. M. Sugandi-Ratulangi, Director S&A PETROKIMIA

Tell us about your company and it’s role in the Advanced Bioeconomy.

In the past I have Organized technology conferences in the petrochemical industry sector. Since 2000 more interest to the renewable industry Currently advising a potential customer on Algae technology, further interest includes domestic ethanol production and infrastructure studies for supply to the Chinese market from the Bitung Sea terminal.

Tell us about your role and what you are focused on in the next 12 months.

As there is a new President in Indonesia with a “no nonsense” stance and with great tendency to a domestic approach., it could be possible to try to present OBJECTIVE views regarding the opportunities in Indonesia to gradually decrease its dependency on fossil fuels through certain recommendable procedures, However “sales talk” should be prevented at this stage.

What do you feel are the most important milestones the industry must achieve in the next 5 years?  

Socializing of the various opportunities that are becoming available , “late bloomer stance”.

If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about the Advanced Bioeconomy, what would you change? 

Prevent expectation of quick results. Participation in the trend of regional approach on this geographically vastu country.

Of all the reasons that influenced you to join the Advanced Bioeconomy industry, what single reason stands out for you as still being compelling and important to you?  

Making use of the enormous potential available in this tropical archipelago for the Bioeconomy Industry

Where are you from? 

Indonesian national. Born in Jakarta, Studied chemical technology at te Institute os Technology, Bandung, Indonesia. Technische Hogeschool, Delft, Holland. RW Technische Hochschule Aachen, Germany. PhD from Uniiversity of Hamburg, Germany. Organic Chemistry.

What was your undergraduate major in college, and where did you attend? Why did you choose that school and that pathway?

TH Aachen, Organic Chemistry….. always interested in making Chemistry usable for mankind.

Who do you consider your mentors – could be personal, business, or just people you have read about and admire. What have you learned from them?

Ir is too far in the past and maybe those mentors have passed away.

What’s the biggest lesson you ever learned during a period of adversity?  

That all these processes I have studied and worked at in the past turned out to have a negative impact on the overall system….. and therefore I am glad that there is current trend to use CO2 as basic feedstock.

What hobbies do you pursue, away from your work in the industry?  

Swimming, diving and walking.

What are 3 books you’d want to have with you, if you were stranded on a desert island

I know no title but it might be about “reincarnation” and that is no joke…..

What books or articles are on your reading list right now, or you just completed and really enjoyed?  

About nano chemistry and eventually about the mind science (the magazine of American Scientific.

What’s your favorite city or place to visit, for a holiday?  

My place at the sea shore at a village called Ranowangko, Minahasa, North Sulawesi. See my blog at WordPress.com laniratulangi ….

But wait a minute….. you forgot to ask my age.. that is a sensitive question.