Batam port expansion bid to open in February<\/p>\n
Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Batam, Riau<\/p>\n
The Batam Industrial Development Authority (BIDA) expects to
\nbegin the international bidding process for the expansion of the
\nBatu Ampar general cargo and container port in February, BIDA
\nchairman Ismeth Abdullah said.<\/p>\n
\"Nine international firms are currently conducting feasibility
\nstudies for the project and they are expected to be completed in
\nfour months. Then we can begin the international bids for
\nconstruction,\" he told visiting reporters here.<\/p>\n
Ismeth said that the main seaport of Batam, the Batu Ampar
\nPort, currently had the capacity for 70,000 TEU containers and 3
\nmillion tons of general cargo per year.<\/p>\n
\"The actual demand is estimated to reach 200,000 TEU
\ncontainers but this could not be served due to the limited
\nfacilities,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The goal of the US$240 million project was to expand the port
\nto a capacity of 1 million TEU containers and 5 million tons of
\ngeneral cargo within five years.<\/p>\n
\"The initial cost of the project is estimated at $70 million
\nfor two years,\" Ismeth said.<\/p>\n
He said that the amount would cover 2.7 million metric meters
\nof dredging, the construction of a 1,400-meter container wharf,
\nreclamation of 3.5 million square meters of land, the
\nconstruction of 20,000 square meters of office buildings, 1,200
\nsquare meters of break water and 11 quay gantry cranes.<\/p>\n
The project would be offered under a build, operate and
\ntransfer (BOT) scheme with BIDA, Ismeth said.<\/p>\n
Nine other projects were currently in the pipeline, he said,
\nexplaining that some would be offered to private investors under
\nthe BOT scheme while others would be operated by BIDA.<\/p>\n
The projects were expected to provide jobs for between 15,000
\nand 20,000 people.<\/p>\n
The projects include a new power plant to anticipate power
\nrequirements for the next two years and the development of the
\nisland's water supply.<\/p>\n
Ismeth said that the current water supply was enough for
\n800,000 inhabitants, well below the current population of about
\n600,000 people.<\/p>\n
The proposed expansion is expected to supply fresh potable
\nwater for one million people, he added.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/batam-port-expansion-bid-to-open-in-february-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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