Bojonegara Can Be Developed as Int'l Port

Bojonegara, Banten (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla expressed optimism that Bojonegara Port in Banten can one day be developed to become an international port as long as it has adequate area and supported by the presence of industrial estates.

"In the future, we are optimistic that Bojonegara can be developed on condition that it has adequate area with industrial estates," Kalla said after visiting Bojonegara and Cigading ports in Banten Saturday.

Kalla was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Boediono, Industry Minister Fahmi Idris, Trade Minister Marie Pangestu, State Minister for State Enterprises Sugiharto, Head of the National Development Planning (Bappenas) Paskah Suzetta, head of the Coordinative Board on Investment (BKPM), M Lutfie, and acting Banten Governor Ratu Atut Choisiyah.

Kalla said, development of Bojonegara Port should be conducted integrally. "We consider the future development and observe (ports) in other countries.

Development of this port must be conducted integrally."Bojonegara Port construction is aimed to anticipate development in the next two years, at the time when Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta is predicted to become too crowded to accomodate economic activities.

"Industrial development has moved to west and Tanjung Priok is already crowded. If we did not build new (port) in the next two years there will be stagnation (in Tanjung Priok)," Kalla added.Previously, the Jakarta administration has planned to expand Tanjung Priok Port and change it into Jakarta New Port.Kalla said, the expansion plan of Tanjung Priok Port would go on but it would face the problem of limited area.

While Bojonegara Port is planned to be supported by development of industrial estate as well as other supporting facilities."The point is that we need new infrastructure outside Jakarta. Now we have Tanjung Priok and Cigading Ports, thus we need to build a new one," the Vice President added.A project officer of Pelindo II, Sri Rahardja said, development of Bojonegara Port is scheduled to have three phases, where for the first phase alone, it would need Rp170 billion of investment.

Meanwhile, in his visit to Cigading Port which belongs to Krakatau Steel, Kalla obtained information that Cigading is a specific port for bulk, not for containers."Because it is quite wavy here, the port is not suitable for container but only for bulk loanding and unloading," an administrator of the port, Faswar Budjang said.During 2005, Cigading Port has handled load and unload services for seven million tons of bulk goods, of which 3.6 million tons are PT Krakatau Steel`s goods and 3.4 million tons are other private companies` goods."Private companies` goods here are corn, cement, and soybean," Faswar said.

Source:
LKBN ANTARA
Feb 11 20:17