Cirebon wants int'l standard port
Nana Rukmana The Jakarta Post/Cirebon
The town of Cirebon in West Java is considering plans to build an international-standard port to boost the local economy and reduce the area's dependence on Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta.
Cirebon Regent Dedi Supardi said the lack of a port in West Java forced businesses to pay extra for sea transportation services through Tanjung Priok.
He said the construction of an international-standard port should be one of the main priority's for the West Java provincial administration if it hoped to spur economic development.
"In our opinion, West Java should have its own international- standard port and Cirebon is the right place to construct the port," Dedi said.
He said that based on a preliminary study, it would cost at least Rp 6 trillion (US$600 million) to build a port. Apart from constructing the port and its supporting facilities, that amount includes the money needed to compensate residents for their land.
He said the money would come from the Cirebon regency and West Java provincial budgets, as well as from private investors.
"We will also make a proposal to the central government for assistance from the state budget," Dedi said, without providing details on when construction might be expected to begin.
He said an international-standard port would help boost the provincial economy by supporting the development of industrial areas. It would also help in the development of the marine industry and improve the welfare of fishermen.
"Cirebon regency covers 990,36 square kilometers and has a coastline that stretches for 54 kilometers, one of the longest in the province. At least 60,000 fishermen and their families live along the coast," Dedi said.
According to the preliminary plan, the port would be built in the coastal area of Astanajapura, he said, adding that the current port in Cirebon could no longer be expanded.
"Geographically, the port in Cirebon city can not be further developed because it is surrounded by residential areas. Also, the high sedimentation level makes the water too shallow for big ships to dock," he said.