Indonesia

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a widely used food additive with growing demand in Indonesia. This study aims to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of establishing an MSG production plant utilizing molasses as raw material with a capacity of 76,000 tons per year. The production process involves three main stages: fermentation using Corynebacterium glutamicum, purification, and crystallization. Mass and energy balance calculations, equipment sizing, and comprehensive economic evaluation were conducted. The plant requires 219,096 tons of molasses annually with an overall conversion yield of 35%. Key utilities include 271,584 tons of steam, 4.78 GWh of electricity, and 3.09 million m³ of water per year. Economic analysis reveals a total capital investment of Rp 6,444 billion with annual production costs of Rp 3,943 billion. The plant demonstrates strong economic viability with Net Present Value of Rp 1,350 billion, Internal Rate of Return of 14.3% (exceeding discount rate of 10.8%), Return on Investment of 9.73%, and Payback Period of 5.07 years. Break-even point occurs at 56.82% capacity (43,183 tons/year). The project is technically feasible and economically viable, offering significant potential for import substitution, molasses valorization, and strengthening Indonesia's food industry independence.