Govt to build new cargo port near Jakarta

Antara News, Monday, November 15, 2010 17:34 WIB

Tokyo (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government`s plan to build a new cargo port near Jakarta was discussed by visiting Vice President Boediono and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) President Hirose Watanabe here on Monday.

"The JBIC hailed the government`s plan but it suggested that the port should be equipped with a railway infrastructure to smooth goods transportation," Boediono`s spokesman, Yopie Hidayat, said here on Monday.

He said during the meeting with the vice president, JBIC made a number of proposals, one of which was the building of a railway track for cargo transportation.

"They are interested in constructing a special railway, including a new port because the present port of Tanjung Priok is already overburdened, " he said.

He said it would be difficult to relocate cargo handling activity if the new seaport was not supported by railway track for cargo transportation.

"They proposed that a special railway track be built from industrial zones to the port," the vice presidential spokesman said.

He said that the idea to build a railway was raised during the discussion with the vice president and the JBIC on the Japanese industrial relocation to Indonesia.

In order to support the relocation, a seaport and appropriate transportation infrastructure are needed to smooth the goods movement.

JBIC also proposed the construction of a mini natural gas production center in a gas field which had not-too big reserves because it would not be economical if a a large scale plant was built.

"JBIC proposed the construction of several mini and medium sized gas processing centers. The technology for that is already there and what remains to be done is to conduct a serious study," Hidayat said.

He said that JBIC also proposed an electricity generating project in Central Java. "They want to take part in the power project in Central Java," he said.