Power rate rises affect ports firm

JAKARTA (JP): PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) II, the state company managing commercial ports in West Java, Jakarta and the southern part of Sumatra, will ask the government to increase its service fees following next month's rise in electricity rates.

The company's president, Amir Harbani, told reporters yesterday that the electricity tariff hike will increase Pelindo II's annual spending by Rp 7 billion (US$3.2 million).

He said increases in the prices of spare parts and services over the years has raised the company's spending.

The government last week announced an average increase of 7.8 percent in electricity rates in an effort to raise funds for power development. From next month the tariff will be raised to Rp 161.59 (7.3 U.S. cents) per kilowatt hour (kWh) from the present Rp 150.06 per kWh.

Harbani, who attended a workshop on the development of human resources of state-owned transportation firms, said that Pelindo II actually proposed rises in port service fees after the government raised electricity rates in 1990.

He said yesterday service fees which may be increased include those for berthing, tug boat fees, loading, unloading and the handling of goods at warehouses.

He said that rises in port service fees should not make them too costly.

The company's total revenues increased from Rp 253.49 billion in 1992 to Rp 286.95 billion last year, while its profit rose from Rp 109.17 billion to Rp 110.12 billion.

This year, the company expects to net Rp 307.13 billion in revenues and Rp 111.53 billion in profit.

In a related development, presidents of the state-owned airport management firms PT Angkasa Pura I and PT Angkasa Pura II told reporters that the electricity price hike will not affect operations.

Both of Chusjairi of Angkasa Pura I and Fachrie Zainuddin of Angkasa Pra II said that the increase will cause only a minor impact. (icn)