Pelindo to built new multipurpose terminal

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

In order to increase the capacity of Tanjung Priok International Seaport, state-owned port operator PT Pelindo II is developing a 500-hectare multipurpose terminal in East Ancol, North Jakarta, which is expected to commence operation in 2012.

"We are currently at the reclamation stage and this will be followed by the building of the terminal," Pelindo II corporate secretary Hendra Budhi said on Saturday, adding that as soon as the required 40 hectares of land had been reclaimed, the construction stage would start.

Hendra explained that after reclamation work was completed in 2009, the first facility to be built would be a 300-meter-long dock.

As stated on its website, the new terminal will add 2.7 million TEUs (20-feet equivalent units) to Tanjung Priok's current capacity of 1.1 million TEUs. The increase was expected to meet the projected demand of around 4 million TEUs by 2012.

The overall project would also include the construction of a car terminal with a capacity of close to 900,000 units and a bulk terminal with a capacity of 3.2 million tons.

Pelindo II has outsourced construction of the project to investor PT Manggala Kridayudha -- including the reclamation project -- with the latter being entitled to operate 375 hectares of the port for 20 years after the completion of the project.

"The remaining 175 hectares will be self-operated by Pelindo II," Hendra said.

The total investment needed for the project was Rp 8.42 trillion, according to the Pelindo II website.

Despite criticism of inefficiency in the country's ports, Pelindo II projects that goods shipments through its ports will amount to 132.2 million tons this year.

Given such growth, the company says it expects to book a profit of Rp 876 billion in 2005.(003)