Indonesia’s Pelindo I Aims High
Indonesian state-run port operator Pelindo I plans to modernize and expand five of its ports this year. It has invested $2.7bn to develop ports in support of President Joko Widodo's maritime highway construction program.
The five ports scheduled for this year included Malahayati port, Belawan port, Kuala Tanjung, Dumai port and Batam port.
The port operator Pelindo I said that with investments of US$1.2 billion, North Sumatra’s Kuala Tanjung Port will become one of the world’s largest ports. It could reach 30th position in the Best Port List, stated Pelindo I president director Bambang Eka Cahyana.
It will spend $400 million this year to finance the first phase of construction. The port is expected to handle 3.5 million tonnes of liquid cargo per year, 1 million tonnes of dry freight and 400,000 containers.
Roger Clasquin, the managing director of the Port of Rotterdam, Pelindo I’s advisor for the project, said he was upbeat that Indonesia could develop a world-class port as well as an industrial estate, similar to those of Singapore.
He said that Singapore had disadvantages in natural resources, but it has built up industrial clusters, so there’s no reason why Indonesia can’t do the same thing.
Pelindo I has plans over the next five years to work on dozens of strategic projects, such as expanding shipping container terminals at Belawan seaport in Medan and deepening the sea channel at the same port, as part of the maritime highway program.
PT Pelindo I was also assigned to develop ports in Bagansiapiapi and Gunung Sitoli on the island of Nias. The two ports, however, are not included in the expansion and modernization program this year.
Bambang said Pelindo I also aimed to straighten out, relocate and modernize Belawan port’s passenger terminals, as well as revitalize its dry bulk terminal.
