Bisnis, JAKARTA – Kuala Tanjung Port’s plan to become an international hub will be realized after the industrial estate (KI) is built. For as much as the origin area of the materials or hinterland has not been formed, international activities will continue to be served by Belawan.
Port Director General of Sea Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation, M. Tohir, said Kuala Tanjung’s International Hub will be formed in long-term. At present, he said, the land acquisition process for the Kuala Tanjung industrial estate has not yet been completed.
“In the following, an international hub will be built when an industrial area has occurred behind it. The facilities have not yet been built. Later on, international (cargo loading and unloading) activities in Belawan will evolve, finally in Kuala Tanjung,” said Tohir, Monday (8/19).
After operating the multi-purpose terminal (construction of the Kuala Tanjung Port phase I), which serves the loading and unloading of bulk, dry bulk and container cargo starting in early 2019, PT Pelindo I (Persero) will develop industrial areas around the port.
In accordance with Presidential Regulation No. 81/2018, the development, expansion and management of the Kuala Tanjung Industrial Estate will be carried out by Pelindo I together with PT Inalum (Persero).
Overall, the land needed for the industrial estate is around 3,000 hectares (ha) which takes IDR 11 trillion of investment needs. This area will complement the existing hinterland, namely the Sei Mangkel industrial area that prioritizes palm oil based industries. Pelindo I previously said it would acquire 400 hectares of land this year.
The Ministry of Transportation in a press release on Friday (16/8) stated that the Port of Kuala Tanjung in Batubara Regency, North Sumatra, was prepared as an international hub, while the Port of Belawan would focus on serving domestic.
Director General of Sea Transportation Agus H. Purnomo when contacted on Sunday (18/8) said that the transfer of international activities in Belawan to Kuala Tanjung would be carried out in stages.
“Pelindo (Pelindo I) will do it in stages so that it runs smoothly,” he said without being willing to mention the deadline for the move. (Sri Mas Sari)
Source : Koran Bisnis Indonesia