“ … Here is another one. A change in what Human nature will allow for government. "Careful, Kryon, don't talk about politics. You'll get in trouble." I won't get in trouble. I'm going to tell you to watch for leadership that cares about you. "You mean politics is going to change?" It already has. It's beginning. Watch for it. You're going to see a total phase-out of old energy dictatorships eventually. The potential is that you're going to see that before 2013.

They're going to fall over, you know, because the energy of the population will not sustain an old energy leader ..."
"Update on Current Events" – Jul 23, 2011 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll) - (Subjects: The Humanization of God, Gaia, Shift of Human Consciousness, 2012, Benevolent Design, Financial Institutes (Recession, System to Change ...), Water Cycle (Heat up, Mini Ice Ace, Oceans, Fish, Earthquakes ..), Nuclear Power Revealed, Geothermal Power, Hydro Power, Drinking Water from Seawater, No need for Oil as Much, Middle East in Peace, Persia/Iran Uprising, Muhammad, Israel, DNA, Two Dictators to fall soon, Africa, China, (Old) Souls, Species to go, Whales to Humans, Global Unity,..... etc.)
(Subjects: Who/What is Kryon ?, Egypt Uprising, Iran/Persia Uprising, Peace in Middle East without Israel actively involved, Muhammad, "Conceptual" Youth Revolution, "Conceptual" Managed Business, Internet, Social Media, News Media, Google, Bankers, Global Unity,..... etc.)
.

Friday, October 29, 2010

US pledges $2 mln to assist RI`s disaster victims

Antara News, Friday, October 29, 2010

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The US government has pledged US$2 million in aid to assist the victims of a tsunami in Mentawai islands and Mount Merapi`s eruption in Central Java.

The US government was deeply concerned about a string of natural disasters engulfing Indonesia, US Ambassador to Indonesia Scot Marciel said on Friday.

"For the sake of humanity, we want to assist Indonesia. America is Indonesia`s friend. We very much care about what has happened in Indonesia," Marciel said.

A tsunami triggered by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake devastated the Mentawai islands off the western coast of Sumatra on Monday night. Official figure put the death toll in the tsunami at 394 as of Friday morning, while 312 others are still missing.

The tsunami also injured at least 267 people and forced the evacuation of 12,865 others.

The West Sumatra Provincial Disaster Mitigation Board said on Thursday the tsunami also destroyed four elementary school buildings, one junior high school building, four churches, 426 houses, and 10 bridges, while more than 200 houses had minor damage.

Meanwhile, Mount Merapi which erupted on Tuesday has killed 34 people and seriously injured 10 others.

The world`s most active volcano erupted again at around 04.00 p.m. on Thursday, spewing hot clouds of ash down its slopes.

A total of 17,776 people in Sleman district, Yogyakarta, and 13,757 people in Magelang district, Central Java, have so far evacuated to safer places following the eruption.


Related Article:

Mayors share ideas on good governance

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 10/29/2010 11:05 AM

Anticorruption award-winning mayors shared ideas on key strategies to bring about good governance in their respective administrations throughout their ground-breaking tenure at the Bung Hatta Anticorruption Award 2010.

The awards were officially handed to Yogyakarta Mayor Herry Zudianto and Surakarta Mayor Joko Widodo on Thursday night in a ceremony attended by well-respected figures — including academics, activists and the media — concerned with corruption eradication.

The judges chose the two over 36 other candidates.

Herry, however, asked that his award to be bestowed to his administration, saying that the achievement would not have been possible without all the civil servants in his office.

“Good governance in Indonesia is like a rolling snowball: it can’t be stopped,” he said. “The paradigm shift can come from outside forces, or it can come from our willingness to change.”

Some of the novel systems that Herry has implemented in his administration include a one-stop licensing agency in which one office handles all administration procedures and the information and complaint service unit through which Yogyakarta residents voice their aspirations.

Herry added that he viewed leadership not as an avowal of social position, but as a sharing of responsibility with his colleagues.

“I consider myself more as the head of services in Yogyakarta rather than a mayor,” he said, adding that he nurtured his spirit of service during his previous profession as a batik entrepreneur.

Joko, who was a furniture entrepreneur before assuming office, said that he too implemented lessons learnt during his previous profession in his administration.

He stated that in his 21 years of dealing with foreign customers, he learnt the importance of quality, timeliness and finances, which he implemented by strengthening small-scale enterprises in Surakarta.

Joko is lauded for his success in the peaceful relocation of 5,817 street vendors and the establishment of 15 markets in his five years in office.

Clear-cut communication detailing the benefits of relocation overcame the vendors’ fears, he said.

“I apply the same method of communication with fellow politicians. I talk to them and provide them with detailed explanations of my concept,” he said.

Natalia Subagjo, one of the founders of the foundation giving out the award, which was established in 2003, said bureaucratic reforms were the focus of this year’s award.

“It was not easy to fund non-corrupt individuals in this country,” she said. “But it wasn’t impossible since there are still many individuals who hold onto their integrity and remain unaffected by the habits of those around them. Instead, they are the ones who influence their surroundings.” (gzl)

European Commission provides €1.5 million for Indonesia twin disasters survivors

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 10/28/2010

The European Commission has allocated €1.5 million (US$2 million) in humanitarian assistance to survivors of the tsunami in Mentawai and the volcanic eruption of Mount Merapi in Java, EU Delegation to Indonesia, Julian Wilson said in a statement Thursday.

The funds will help around 65,000 people in Mentawai and at least 22,000 people in Yogyakarta or Central Java.

The funding will be channelled through the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO).

“We extend our condolences to those who have lost loved ones in these two natural disasters,” Wilson stated.

“The European Commission is providing this initial emergency assistance which will help alleviate the suffering of the survivors and the EU will continue to stand by its Indonesian partners in this time of need.”

A tsunami hit several islands of Mentawi in West Sumatra killing at least 343 people on Monday. The number is likely to climb higher because hundreds of missing people may have been swept away.

In Yogyakarta, the Mount Merapi volcanic eruption killed at least 33 people on Tuesday, forcing thousands to evacuate from the mountain slopes.


Related Articles:

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Australia supports better urban sanitation in Indonesia

Antara News, Tuesday, October 26, 2010 11:04 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesians in 22 cities will soon have access to better sanitation facilities thanks to support from Australia that will help local governments improve their sanitation programs, according to a media release from the Australian Embassy here on Tuesday.

Heads of the 22 district governments gathered in Jakarta on Tuesday to sign agreements for grants provided by Australia totalling A$6 million. These grants will allow the governments to invest in urban wastewater sewerage and treatment; connections to sewerage systems; communal septic tanks; public toilets; solid waste collection services; and solid waste recycle and reuse facilities.

AusAID`s Infrastructure Counsellor, Ben Power, said the project rewards district governments that have demonstrated a strong commitment to better sanitation infrastructure.

"Helping Indonesia improve sanitation is a key priority for Australia,"Power said.
"We are proud to be involved in a project that focuses on poor urban households and that will lead to better health and safer environments."

Through the new agreements district governments will have access to grants from Australia ranging from IDR 500 million to IDR 4.8 billion. The size of the grant will be determined by how much the district governments allocate for sanitation in their 2010 budgets.

The 22 cities to receive grants are: Probolinggo, Jombang, Purworejo, Yogyakarta, Solok, Deli Serdang, Makassar, Banjarmasin, Malang, Tegal, Cimahi, Jambi, Banda Aceh, Medan, Bukit Tinggi, Pekanbaru, Pekalongan, Blitar, Batu, Ambon, Jayapura, and Denpasar.

Australia is committed to helping Indonesia make faster progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goal to increase access to clean water and better sanitation.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Japan readies $52.9b for first corridor

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 10/23/2010 12:27 PM

Japan has earmarked US$52.9 billion to help Indonesia finance projects in the first of six economic corridors intended to sustain the flow of goods in the country and in the Southeast Asia region.

“It may even be increased to $60 billion if needed,” Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa told reporters on Friday. The agreement was reached during his recent visit to Japan.

The economic corridors are defined as six economic development highways, mostly located along coastlines, which would connect centers of economic growth in five islands: Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua.

Hatta said the first economic corridor, spreading along the east coast of Sumatra to the western part of Java, including Greater Jakarta and Banten, would comprise a total of 44 projects to be developed in two phases 14 projects in the period 2010-2014 and 30 projects in 2015-2025.

Hatta said the projects on the corridor would be developed using various financing schemes.

“Those projects may be financed purely by private sector or using the public-private partnership scheme,” he said, while mentioning coal fire power plants and railway transportations as two of projects would be financed by private sector

According to the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), five prioritized projects worth US$4.44 billion are ready to be offered to investors now: The Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Manggarai railway track ($735 million), the Tanah Ampo cruise terminal in Bali ($30 million), the Medan-Kualanamu tollroad in North Sumatra ($475 million), the Umbulan tapwater plant in Pasuruan, East Java ($200 million), and a large 3,000 MW coal-fired power plant in Central Java ($3 billion).

Vice President Boediono has declared those five projects as pioneer projects under the PPP scheme.

Hatta said a strong economic growth engine driven by strong export and investment flows had made Indonesia’s economy more stable.

“We have quite strong macro economy fundamentals,” he said.

However, he said, Indonesia should put more effort into infrastructure development.

“With rapid infrastructure development, we will have faster economic growth,” he said, adding that Indonesia should better promote the development of infrastructure and of the real sector.

The 14 projects proposed for the first phase of development in the first corridor are already listed and will comprise ports, bridges, and toll road developments.

These will include the renovation of the Dumai port in Riau province, the expansion of the Lampung-Panjang road in Lampung province, the developments of coal-fired power plants, provision of road infrastructure for mines and electricity infrastructure in North Sumatra, the renovation of Soekarno Hatta airport, the development of the long-awaited Manggarai-Soekarno Hatta railway, the development of the Lahat-Kertapati coal railway, the development of another coal railway in South Sumatra, the development of the Medan-Binjai toll road, the development of Kuala Namu airport in North Sumatra, the development of the Pekan Baru-Kandis toll road, the development of the 400-kilometer Medan-Pekanbaru road, and the development of the Belawan shipping line in North Sumatra.

Hatta said he would complete the master plan for the six corridors in three months as requested by the president. (ebf)

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Dubai companies to invest in South Sumatra`s energy sector

Antara News, Saturday, October 23, 2010 16:08 WIB

London (ANTARA News) - Two Dubai companies, Salam Investments and Mas ClearSight Investment Bank, plan to invest in the energy sector in South Sumatra, an Indonesian official said.

"The two companies from Dubai are interested in investing in coal mining and power generation and prepared to sink about 0.5 billion US dollars in eventual projects ," Mansyur Pangeran, Indonesian consul general in Dubai, told ANTARA here on Saturday.

Pangeran said he had accompanied Abdelhakim Mosleh of Salam Investments and Senior Vice President of Mas Clear Sight Investment Bank, Mujitaba Sarfaraz, on a business mission to the capital city of South Sumatra province, Palembang , recently.

In Palembang, they met with the head of the province`s regional coordinating agency for investment (BKPMD) as well as with officials representing coal mining and power plant sectors. The two Dubai businessmen got comprehensive information on those sectors, including aspects related to permit issuance, locations for coal mining and power plant and the supporting infrastructures.

Pangeran said after the visit to Palembang they also met with officials of the central investment coordinating agency (BKPM) and Indonesia power company PT PLN in Jakarta for further talks on their plan to invest in South Sumatra.

In accordance with the regulation for foreign investments, Pangeran added, the two Dubai businessmen sought data on Indonesian companies, state-owned or provincial government-owned companies, that will be made partners in the investments.

The business visit of the two Dubai businessmen to South Sumatra province was facilitated by the Indonesian consulate general in Dubai, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and South Sumatra provincial government (Pemprov Sumsel).

Related Article:

Japan to invest $52.9 bln in Indonesia infrastructure

Reuters Africa, By Aditya Suharmoko and Janeman Latul, Fri Oct 22, 2010

  • Mix of private investment, loans, grants over 15 years
  • Projects include ports and power plants

JAKARTA, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Indonesia has received $52.9 billion of investment commitments from Japan over the next 15 years to develop the country's infrastructure, Indonesia's chief economics minister Hatta Rajasa said on Friday.

The deal comes as Indonesia's government is in the midst of a long-promised infrastructure improvement campaign needed to help sustain growth momentum in its booming economy.

The government, which says it can only fund about a third of an estimated $140 billion of infrastructure needs in thenext five years, hopes improved transport links and power supply will attract further long-term foreign direct investment.

"There are 44 projects, 14 projects for 2010-2014 and 30 projects for 2015-2025," Rajasa said, adding the first phase of development will connect east Sumatra and northwest Java.

He said the first 14 projects include ports at Dumai and Lampung Panjang, a north Sumatra coal-fired power plant and electricity infrastructure in northern Sumatra island, a key producer of commodities such as coal, tin and palm oil.

The projects will be funded from a combination of private investment, loans, and grants, Rajasa said.

BETTING ON GROWTH

Japan, which is also funding a metro line in traffic-choked Jakarta, committed the investments to capitalise on a growth trajectory that it lacks at home, analysts said.

"They're barely growing domestically and they are looking to put their money into emerging markets like us in order to get a boost for their economy -- infrastructure investments have reoccurring stable income," said Chandra Pasaribu, infrastructure analyst at PT Danareksa Securities in Jakarta.

"Such commitments from the government are also benefiting Japanese companies because they will get the projects where they plan to give loans or grants."

Thanks to increased political stability and resilient growth, Indonesia's government has seen much more investor interest in long-term projects recently, and expects foreign direct investment (FDI) to jump 22 percent in 2010 from a year ago.

Higher FDI would help stabilise its long-term finances and improve its chances of getting an investment grade sovereign rating, a status that would put it on a par with BRIC nations such as Brazil and lower government borrowing costs.

South Korean firms and steel giant ArcelorMittal (ISPA.AS: Quote) are considering investments in Indonesia, while Chinese wealth fund CIC is interested in investing up to $25 billion, government officials have said.

"Japan is slightly different to China," Pasaribu said. "They put more focus on high-tech projects while China is more focused on low-end ones."

(Writing by Joseph Chaney; Editing by Neil Chatterjee)

Friday, October 22, 2010

Japan Invests in Cassava Cultivation

Tempo Interactive, Friday, 22 October, 2010

Garut– A Japanese company, Nihon Yakuzen Food, through PT Java Energy will invest Rp 742,1 billion in cassava cultivation. Wahyudijaya, the Garut Investment Office chief, said the project that will be carried out on a 15.000-hectare land in Garut, West Java, is scheduled to begin next year.

For the cultivation of cassava plants and production of cassava chips, a kind of toxic but superior cassava is required. With a 9 to 10 month planting period, the harvest is expected to be 60 to 120 tons per hectare. The cost to plant on the area in Cibalong is around Rp375 billion.

To process the product, businessmen plan to build a factory on a 10-hectare area around the agricultural area. Three factories will be built with investment worth Rp55 billion to yield an annual production capacity of 450.000 tons. “The product will be exported to Japan to produce 25 to 69 million tons of cassava chips per year,” Wahyu said yesterday.

The company’s investment is expected to boost Garut’s revenues and its economy, as well as to cut down unemployment rate. After the issuance of the investment license, construction can begin and is expected to be completed within one year.

Wawan Kurnia, the Garut Regional House of Representatives’ (DPRD) B Commission member, welcomed the plan. He hoped the project is supported by the government. “If possible, people should be hired to plant the cassava and businessmen to buy the products. In that way, farmers’ living standard can improve,” he said.

If the plan to invest in cassava cultivation is achieved, the regional government can be a little relieved because the auction on Mount Papandayan’s geothermal project that can potentially produce 160 megawatt of electricity, has been canceled.

Widiyana, the Garut Water and Mining Resources Office chief, said the auction was canceled because Mount Papandayan was not in the list of the second phase of the 10.000 megawatt electricity acceleration project. Moreover, the regulation on the mining operation had not been issued by the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. “Yet, we submitted the request a long time ago,” he said on Monday.

As such, Widi said, the regional government will urge the Energy Ministry to issue the mining business license. Another research on Mount Papandayan must be carried out soon so that the auction can take place immediately. “We hope Papandayan will be operational by 2014.

Prospects to generate geothermal energy in Garut Regency has been offered by Garut Regent Aceng H.M. Fikri to 100 European investors, like in the Hague, a while ago. The offer was made during the 2009 West Java Expo in Banding. The Papandayan investment project was offered at US$10 million.

SIGIT ZULMUNIR

ICBC allocates us$250 million for RI

Antara News, Friday, October 22, 2010 03:06 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) has allocated funds totaling US$250 million in the framework of its cooperation with Indonesia`s Eximbank.

"In this cooperation, ICBC allocates US$250 million to support bilateral cooperation projects," Eximbank Senior Executive Director Arifin Indra said here on Thursday.

He said that the signing of Indonesia Eximbank and ICBC was done in Beijing witnessed by Indonesian Vice President Boediono and Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Wednesday.

"ICBC is a biggest government-owned publicly listed bank in China with a world class capitalization," Arifin said.

The area of cooperation between the two sides covered trade, investment and finance between Indonesia and China.

The form of the cooperation is trade in mechanical products, electronics, technology products, energy and raw materials. It is also in the form of infrastructure projects and energy projects in both countries and are cultivated by Indonesian or Chinese firms.

Apart from that it also covered construction projects done by Indonesian or Chinese companies and loans from ICBC to Indonesia Eximbank for projects related to the two institutions.

The fund allocation is also provided to support Chinese buyers who want to buy goods from Indonesian exporters, or cooperation on projects between Indonesian and Chinese companies.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Timika gets first green high school in Papua

Markus Makur, The Jakarta Post, Timika, Papua | Thu, 10/21/2010 10:02 AM

State junior high school SMPN 2 in Timika would be the first environment-focused school in Mimika regency, Papua, says a regency spokesman.

Mimika regency administration assistant Alfred Douw said the green school pilot project was part of the regency’s move to improve education and preserve the environment, following a central government program launched five years ago.

“This is a new program for Mimika that should be followed by the other 32 junior high schools in the regency,” Alfred said.

As part of the program, SMPN 2 Timika is expected to teach students about environmental destruction and preservation, he said.

Mimika Secondary Education Office head Yesaya Sombuk said the school was expected to initiate a change in perspectives in the students and teachers and develop a greater respect for the environment.

He said teachers could be examples for the students in environmental action, through taking part in cleanup campaigns themselves instead of simply assigning students to do the work, for example.

“Teachers have to be creative in teaching students through example. Change, in teachers and students, has to start in school,” Yesaya said.

The regency’s environment agency head Zakarias Marey said that SMPN 2 Timika was the first school in Papua to be named an environmentally-focused school.

He said the regency administration would continue to support other schools applying to implement the environmental program.

SMPN 2 Timika principal Bernardus Manik said the school was determined to adopt the program, as they had learned how to do so from PT Freeport Indonesia’s environment division and a recent official visit to Australia.

To initiate the program the school prepared a field where students can practice planting several varieties of plants.

“We are ready to be the example of preservation of the environment in Mimika regency. We will teach our students how to respect the environment in their classes, their school and their communities,” Bernardus said.

Demianus Dimara of Freeport Indonesia said littering would be the biggest challenge for teachers to deal with, adding that while visiting SMPN 2 Timika before the program’s launch, he found a lot of plastic garbage in the school’s bathrooms and schoolyard.

“Students can change their attitudes with one simple step, such as not littering.”

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

RI, China sign four economic agreements

Antara News, Wednesday, October 20, 2010 20:41 WIB

Beijing (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and China have signed four economic agreements covering trade financing, investment and infrastructure development.

The agreements were contained in memorandums of understanding signed by officials from the two countries and witnessed by visiting Indonesian Vice President Boediono here on Wednesday.

The four memorandums of understanding cover an agreement to expand and deepen the two countries` trade and economic cooperation, an agreement on trade and investment financing between the Indonesia Export Financing Institute (LPEI) or Indonesia Exim Bank and China`s Exim Bank and an agreement to increase cooperation in the infrastructure development.

They also signed an agreement on the PLTU power project in Celukan Bawang, North Bali, with a capacity of 3x1500 MW.

Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said Indonesia`s Exim Bank received a financing facility of US$350 million from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China to increase financing for domestic trade and investment.

She said the Indonesian Textile Association (API) and the Indonesian Shoe Makers Association (Aprisindo) had already signed an agreement with LPEI for Indonesia Exim Bank to be able to help the country`s textile and shoe industries in the field of financing and investment.

She said industrialists were interested in the financing from LPEI because LPEI gives an affordable interest and a risk guarantee for new exporters.

"LPEI provides financial help at an affordable interest rate and a risk guarantee for new exporters with good track records or for new vestures such as cooperation with China for the financing of new machinery procurement," she said.

Related Article:

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Ras Al Khaimah Plans $5 Billion Indonesia Venture

Jakarta Globe, Bambang Djanuarto | October 19, 2010

The Argo Gajayana passing through Malang in East Java. Ras Al Khaimah, one of the sheikhdoms of the United Arab Emirates, and Trimex Group plan to invest $5 billion in Indonesian construction projects, including a 130 kilometer railway on Kalimantan. (JG Photo/Afriadi Hikmal)

Jakarta. Ras Al Khaimah, one of the sheikhdoms of the United Arab Emirates, plans to invest $5 billion in Indonesian construction projects as part of a joint venture with Trimex Group.

MEC Holdings, the venture overseeing all of Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai-based Trimex’s Indonesian projects, will spend $1 billion to build 130 kilometers (81 miles) of railway on Indonesia’s part of Borneo island, executive vice chairman Madhu Koneru said on Tuesday. The link will be able to transport as much as 64 million metric tons of coal a year, he said.

“Construction will start in 2012 and we expect to complete the project in 2014,” Koneru said in an interview in Jakarta after meeting Alwi Shihab, Indonesia’s special envoy to the Middle East.

Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, is trying to attract investment in infrastructure as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono seeks to deliver average growth of 6.6 percent over the remainder of his second and final term ending in 2014.

MEC Holdings will also invest $500 million to develop a coal mine in Muara Wahau, East Kalimantan province, and build a port with an annual capacity up to 34 million tons, Koneru said.

The venture will team up with National Aluminum Co. to build a 500,000-ton aluminum smelter and power plant in East Kalimantan, according to Koneru. That investment may total as much as $3.5 billion, he said.
Bloomberg

Related Articles:

Seven foreign investors to build cocoa plants in RI

Antara News, Monday, October 18, 2010 22:30 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Seven foreign investors have expressed keen interest in building cocoa processing plants in Indonesia following the imposition of duties on cocoa exports as of April 1, 2010.

The seven investors are ADM Cocoa and Olam International of Singapore, Guanchong Cocoa of Malaysia, Cargill and Mars of the United States, Armajaro of Britan, and Ferrero of Italy, Director General of Agribusiness at the Industry Ministry Benny Wachjudi said on Monday.

"I don`t know when the investors will start investing. But they have asked for clarification on the possibility of the government reviewing the imposition of duties on cocoa exports," he said.

Benny said Guanchong Cocoa was likely to build a cocoa processing plant with an annual capacity of 50 thousand tons early next year.

In addition, he said local cocoa producer PT Bumitangerang Mesindotama would also double the production capacity of its plant in Tangerang, Banten province, to 80 thousand tons per year.

The expansion project which would cost an estimated US$40 million would be completed in eight months` time, he said.

Benny said a number of downstream cocoa processing plants had begun to revive their activities after they ceased operation.

Chairman of the Indonesian Cocoa Producers Association (AIKI) Piter Jasman said the imposition of duties on cocoa exports had a positive impact on the growth of downstream industries.

"Fifteen AIKI members have raised their production capacity. The national cocoa powder and butter production is projected to reach 300 thousand tons in 2011," he said.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Govt to build 1,000 temporary shelters in flood-hit Wasior

Antara News, Monday, October 18, 2010 19:28 WIB

Wasior, W Papua (ANTARA News) - The government will soon build 1,000 temporary shelters for victims of a flash flood that swept through Wasior town in West Papua province on October 4, a Public Works Ministry official said.

The temporary shelters would be built after the emergency response period ended, Amirudin, head of the settlement development sub-directorate at the ministry`s directorate of housing, planning and urban development, said here on Monday.

The emergency response period which was supposed to end on October 14 had been extended to the end of October at President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s request.
"Therefore, we will start building the temporary shelters after the end of the emergency response period," he said.

Amirudin said he could not yet ascertain technically the model of the temporary shelters.

"It is likely they will be built in the form of temporary barracks made of wood," he said.
He said it would take three weeks or more for the government to build the temporary shelters.

The relief foundation Aksi Cepat Tanggap (ACT) said earlier it would also build shelters to accommodate residents who lost their houses in the flash flood.

ACT Program Director Bayu Gawtama said the shelters equipped with public facilities could accommodate 70 to 100 families each, depending on the plot of land on which they were to be built.

Amirudin said the government hailed assistance from various parties to build temporary shelters in the flood-affected area.

Data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency show at least 4,711 people who have fallen victim to the flash flood are currently being accommodated in Manokwari, around 240 km from Wasior. Some 2,554 others found shelters at their own initiative or moved in with relatives.

Around 2,652 victims have remained in Wasior but have been evacuated to emergency camps while 355 others have moved to Nabire.

The Wasior flash flood has reportedly killed at least 124 people, and left 123 others still missing.

The town was covered with mud, logs and rocks following the flood and badly needs heavy-duty equipment for evacuation and cleaning operations.

The flood also injured 853 people and forced 4,625 others to move to safer places.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Bengkulu govt to survey site for satellite launching station

Antara News, Sunday, October 17, 2010 21:27 WIB

Bengkulu (ANTARA News) - The Bengkulu provincial government will soon survey a location for a satellite launching station in Enggano island in North Bengkulu district.

A proposal for the budget of the project had been made in the revised 2010 statebudget, Head of the Bengkulu Provincial Development Planning Board M Nasyah said on Sunday.

The provincial government and the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (LAPAN) signed an agreement in August this year to build a satellite launching station in Bengkulu.

Under the agreement, both sides will form a team of officers to conduct a number of studies and surveys to decide a location for the satellite launching station,he said.

"The LAPAN team will conduct the survey, including a six-month feasibility study andan environmental impact analysis. Hopefully, work on the construction of theproject will start in 2011," he said.

Meanwhile, chief of the Enggano Customary Institute Pa`buki Rafli Zen Kaitora asked the government to familiarize the local people with the plan to build the satellite launching station in Enggano island.

He said he found out about the plan from the local media when he was in Bengkulu city."The Enggano people has not been told about the plan," he said.


Analysts believe Bolden may hold talks on possible co-operation
in space with China during his six-day visit [AP]


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Friday, October 15, 2010

PT Angkasa Pura to expand five airports

Antara News, Friday, October 15, 2010 20:48 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - PT Angkasa Pura I plans to expand five airports in the country in the next two or three years with an investment reaching Rp4 trillion, its president director, Tomy Sutomo said here on Friday.

"The airports to be expanded are Ngurah Rai in Denpasar, Bali, Sepinggan in Balikpapan, Adi Sutjipto in Yogyakarta, Juanda in Surabaya and Ahmad Yani in Semarang," he said after signing a collective labor agreement for 2010-2012 between the company`s board of directors and employee association and union.

He said the expansion was needed to increase service in the airports. In general, he said, the airports are already overcapacity making their service to decline.

Citing an example he referred to the case of Ngurah Rai airport in Bali which was initially designed for accomodating 1.5 million passengers a year but was now accomodating more than 9.5 million passengers a year consisting of 4.5 domestic and five foreign passengers.

He said the first to be expanded would be Ngurah Rai early next year.
The enterprises ministry as the shareholder and the ministry of transportation have already given the permits, he said.

He said the documents for bidding some works had already been prepared and hopefully the project would all be completed in 2013.

He said for Ngurah Rai around Rp2 trillion would be needed, Rp1.25 trillion of it from loans and the rest from the company`s internal cash.

He said the company would cooperate with the Bali provincial government to help clear 129,000 square meters of land needed for the project.

The company expected its income this year to reach Rp2.361 trillion with a net profit of around Rp500 billion.

Until the third quarter this year, the state-owned airport operator company for the eastern region already earned Rp1.79 trillion.

RI diplomats donate Rp5.63 billion for W Sumatra quake victims

Antara News, Friday, October 15, 2010 14:04 WIB

Padang, West Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Triyono Wibowo handed over funds amounting to Rp5.63 billion collected from Indonesian diplomats, including ambassadors, overseas for victims of West Sumatra`s 2009 earthquake.

The vice minister presented the financial assistance at the West Sumatra governor`s office, here, Friday.

The funds collected by the foreign affairs ministry, was meant for education infrastructure renovations, including elementary schools in Padangpariaman, Bung Hatta University and Andalas University.

West Sumatra was rocked by 7.9-magnitude earthquake which devastated Padang city on and its surroundings on September 30, 2009, and killed at least 1,195 people.

Data released on Saturday showed that a total of 15,159 building structures were destroyed, 3,980 damaged and 6,737 others were affected.

Communications were disrupted, electricity supplies were cut off and water for public consumption ran short.

A number of hotels, restaurants and their supporting facilities were also destroyed. Of the 47 star-rated hotels in the province, 24 were damaged, 11 of which devastated, like the Ambacang, Rocky Plaza, Mariani, Nuasa and Hayam Wuruk hotels.

The West Sumatra`s Padang city administration alone suffered a loss of more than Rp7 trillion in the earthquake.

The loss included damage to clean water pipelines built under the city`s roads.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

KPPU Says All Clear for Unilever Acquisition

Jakarta Globe | October 14, 2010

Jakarta. The Business Competition Supervisory Commission says it has no objection for Unilever Indonesia Holding BV to acquire Sara Lee Body Care Indonesia after it found no evidence of monopolizing practices.

The commission, also known as the KPPU, began a comprehensive evaluation of the companies’ products on July 9, particularly roll-on deodorants and men’s hair cream, after a preliminary study failed to reach a conclusion.

Under competition regulations, the merged company is not allowed to have more than a 50 percent share of the market for its products.

On Thursday, the KPPU said in an e-mailed statement that its evaluation had found no anticompetitive behavior that would negatively affect consumers because the markets for each product made it difficult to fix prices.

With roll-on deodorants, the proposed merger was found not to impact on other players’ entry into the market.

“Making deodorants does not require highly sophisticated technology, so the barriers to enter the market is relatively low,” the KPPU said.

As for men’s hair cream, the commission said the already saturated market would not allow for one company to dominate the market.

Franky Jamin, general manager at Unilever Indonesia, said the KPPU had never objected to the takeover bid.

In September 2009, Unilever’s parent company announced that it would acquire Sara Lee’s personal care brands in a deal worth $1.9 billion.

The KPPU requires companies to notify it of proposed mergers and acquisitions, or face billions of rupiah in fines.

Chinese company to build steel plant in S. Kalimantan

Antara News, Thursday, October 14, 2010 17:26 WIB

Kotabaru, South Kalimantan (ANTARA News) - Wuhan Iron and Steel Corporation (Wisco Group), China`s third biggest steel maker, plans to build a steel plant in Kotabaru district, South Kalimantan, in cooperation with PT Sebuku Iron Lateritic Ores (SILO).

The Chinese company would soon send its assistant president director to discuss the plan with Kotabaru district head H Irhami Ridjani, PT Sebuku Iron Lateritic Ores human resources development and general affairs manager IDK Dharmaja said here on Thursday.

Dharmaja said Wuhan Iron and Steel Corporation currently produced 30 million metric tons of steel per year.

"We do not know yet whether they will build a steel plant in Kotabaru with an annual production capacity of 30 million metric tons or below," he said.

He said SILO Group had so far run a number of iron ore industries in Indonesia and the Philippines to meet demand for raw materials to produce steel.

"To meet demand for raw materials we have iron ore industries in Manila and Indonesia. When the planned construction of steel plant in Kotabaru is completed all of our iron ore production will be used to meet its demand for raw materials to produce steel," he said.

Friday, October 08, 2010

Sriwijaya Air to order 20 B737-800 NGs

Antara News, Friday, October 8, 2010 22:04 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Sriwijaya Air on Friday confirmed it is planning to order 20 B737-800NG aircraft for expansion and modernization of its fleet.

"We have not canceled the plan. We already told the public about it, so how could we cancel it," the company`s commercial director, Toto Nursatyo, said.

He said the 20 aircraft would all be newly-produced and a memorandum of understanding on their purchase from Boeing would be signed in Seattle, USA, by Sriwijaya president director Hendry Lie and two company commissioners, namely Fandy Lingga and Capt Sunaryo Yosopratomo, and financial vice director Jefferson Jauwena.

"Delivery is expected to be done in 2012-2013 at the earliest. Each plane will cost around US%70-75 million," he said.

Toto said with the new type of aircraft it was hoped optimalization of operations and efficiency could be done.

"This will also meet the offer of the transportation ministry`s Directorate of Air Transportation to participate in providing 4,000 seats to Australia which will be released to the flight service market in 2011," he said.

Sriwijaya spokesperson Ruth Hanna Simatupang also confirmed the plan. "The delegation is scheduled to leave for Seattle on October 10 or on Sunday," she said.

Sriwijaya Air has so far been known as operator of B737-200 aircraft which is noisy and fuel guzzling, reaching 13 units.It also operates eight units of B737-300 and six units of B737-400.

The company serves 171 flights a day to 35 destinations including two regional destinations namely Malaysia and Singapore.

Toto once said the regulation in the country still allows the operation of those aircraft.
"The expiration of aircraft in Indonesia is 30 years or 70,000 cycles," he said.

He said the 13 units of aircraft operated by his company were not as yet affected by the regulation.

However, he said, the company plans to take B737-200 out of its fleet as of next year in stages. "In the world around 1,200 units of aircraft of the type are still operating," he said.

Lion Air builds US$40 M hangar in Manado

Antara News, Friday, October 8, 2010 21:58 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s largest private airline companies, Lion Air, is building a hangar complete with maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities worth US$40 million in Manado, North Sulawesi.

"The hangar is intended to become a center of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services," the company`s director of general affairs, Edward Sirait, said here on Friday.

The laying of the corner stone to mark its construction had been done on Thursday (Oct 7, 2010) by North Sulawesi governor Sinyo Harry Sarundajang and the company`s president director, Rusdi Kirana.

Edward said initially the facility would only be used internally for maintaining the company`s aircraft which is now at 64 but will increase to 178 following the delivery of B737-900ER the company has ordered.

"Nine months after the start of its construction yesterday the hangar would be completed with other facilities such as an engine shop, a cabin repair shop, an avionic shop, a non-destructive test shop,a hydraulic component shop, a wheel brake shop and ground support equipment on the ground floor while the second floor would be used for an office an employee guest house," he said.

Initially the project would be on a 12-hectare plot of land and the facility would be capable of accommodating two Boeing 737-900ERs.

"More land would certainly be needed in line with its development later," he said.
Edward predicted following its development at least 600 certified personnel with certain expertise would be employed there supported by up to 1000 workers.

"The market potential is big not only domestically but also regionally including East Asia such as Japan," he said.

With regard to human resources he said the company had already trained dozens of technicians in Surabaya, Bandung and Jakara.

In its press statement earlier the company said it was time for the company to have an MRO facility of its own in line with its increasing operations.

At present it serves 390 flights across Indonesia a day carrying 62,000 passengers. It said the number of passengers is expected to reach 20 million this year.

This means, Edward said, a hangar is urgently needed to meet the development of national aviation industry.

He said the facility would cut cost of maintenance, increase employement, tax revenue, manpower`s capability in maintenance service and reliability, security and safety of the company`s aircraft.