Transformers exported to South America

JAKARTA (JP): The transformer producer PT Unelec Indonesia (UNIDO) exported nine transformers worth US$4.2 million to Columbia and Dominica yesterday.

Company president Januar Muin said it was the company's seventh shipment of its exports but its first export outside the Southeast Asia region, the company's traditional export market.

"So far we have only exported to Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore," Januar said in a ceremony marking the export.

The company exported five 48,000 kVa transformers to Dominica, two 40,000 kVa transformers and two 12,500 kVa transformers to Columbia.

All the transformers were bought by the countries's electricity companies.

"I hope this can be a starting point to enter markets in other regions," Januar said, adding that the company had received the ISO 9001 and 9002 for its international standard products.

The company, founded in 1969, is 42 percent owned by the English-French company GEC Alsthom, 42 percent by the Indonesian government, and 12 percent by PT Bum Mandala Agung, an affiliate of the Salim Group.

The 42 shares owned by the government were formerly possessed by the state electricity company PLN but the company later transferred the shares to the Ministry of Finance.

The company's marketing representative Dian said the company's manufacturing plant in Klender, East Jakarta had the production capacity of 3,000 distribution transformers and 500 power transformers per year.

Januar said the company exported between 10 percent and 20 percent of its products, and sold the rest to the domestic market mainly for PLN.

Company president commissioner Hermansyah Jamin, who is also a staff member of the Minister of Mines and Energy, said the company still imported 60 percent of its raw materials for making the transformers and urged the company to cut back on imported materials to reduce the expenditures in dollars. (jsk)