REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BATU BARA – Since operating in 2019, the performance of Kuala Tanjung Port which is managed by a subsidiary of PT Pelabuhan Indonesia I (Persero) or Pelindo 1 continues to increase with the increasing number of ship visits and container loading and unloading activities, liquid bulk, and general cargo.
As of September 2020, the Port of Kuala Tanjung carried out loading and unloading of 34,857 containers, an increase of 52.41 percent from 2019’s realization of 22,870 boxes. In TEUs units, the realization of container loading and unloading up to September 2020 was 36,775 TEUs, up 53.63 percent from the realization in 2019 of 23,937 TEUs.
This increase in throughput was also followed by an increase in loading and unloading realization of liquid bulk up to September 2020, reaching 252,597 tons, more than double the realization in 2019 of 102,200 tons. Realization of loading and unloading of general cargo until September 2020 was 54,879 tonnes, a significant growth from the achievement in 2019 which reached 16,970 tonnes.
President Director of Pelindo 1, Dani Rusli Utama, said that Kuala Tanjung Port recorded a positive growth trend which indicates a good and positive response from the market. Pelindo 1 is supported and supports the Sei Mangkei Special Economic Zone (KEK), an integrated operation with the KEK Sei Mangkei which is managed by PTPN 3 through its subsidiary companies.
Dani said that increased connectivity between ports, trains and toll roads will be the motor to strengthen the operational progress of Kuala Tanjung Port. Pelindo 1 is ready to accept investors to cooperate and support investment activities in Sumatra, especially Kuala Tanjung.
“Currently, we continue to coordinate and explore cooperation with various parties to develop Kuala Tanjung,” said Dani when receiving a working visit from the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Kemenkomarves) to Kuala Tanjung Port & Industrial Estate and Belawan on October 8-9. 2020.
Kemenkomarves working visit was attended by Plt. Deputy for Infrastructure and Transportation Coordination at the Ministry of Communications, Ayodhia G.L. Kalake, Defense and Security Ministry Advisor for Defense and Security Marsetio, Expert Staff for Connectivity Sahat Panggabean, as well as a delegation team from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries who was accompanied by the President Director of Pelindo 1 Dani Rusli Utama, Commissioner Pelindo 1 Ahmad Perwira Mulia Tarigan, Director of Business Transformation and Development Prasetyo, Director of Operations and Commercial Ridwan Sani Siregar, and Director of Human Resources and General Henry Naldi.
Dani Rusli Utama explained that in stage I the Kuala Tanjung industrial area development plan would be developed for three years (2020-2022) in accordance with the Location Determination (Penlok) obtained by Pelindo 1 from the Batu Bara district government covering an area of 1,128 hectares.
“For this reason, we expect full support from the government, starting from the acceleration of land acquisition, funding aspects, and licensing of industrial estates in Kuala Tanjung,” explained Dani Rusli Utama.
Pelindo 1 hopes for support for the development of the Kuala Tanjung Industrial Estate, including ease of obtaining permits for investors to start, run and develop their business; ease of management of energy supply, water, telecommunications, and waste; availability and quality of transportation infrastructure; and competitive tariff policies in supplying electricity and gas to tenants. In addition, an investment policy for the construction of an oil refinery in Kuala Tanjung Industrial Estate is also needed.
Plt. Deputy for Infrastructure and Transportation Coordination at the Ministry of Commerce, Ayodhia G.L. Kalake
said, Kemenkomarves supports the acceleration of development of Kuala Tanjung which becomes a National Strategic Project (PSN) and will also become an international hub. The potential of Kuala Tanjung is very large, which can be seen from the progress of its traffic figures, many ships have taken advantage of the Kuala Tanjung Port operations.
“Kemenkomarves helps accelerate its development and maps the obstacles faced to help find solutions. The progress of this project also depends on the connectivity, access roads, and railways which must support it. If all the infrastructure is completed, Kuala Tanjung’s operations will also be optimal, ”he explained, as in a press release.