Kuala Tanjung (Port)

Latest news

Kuala Tanjung Port to start operations in July

After being delayed for about six months, the Kuala Tanjung Port in North Sumatra is expected to start partial operations in July or August this year. Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the construction of the first phase of the port, which would become one of the country’s international hubs, is between 80 and 90 percent complete. “At the latest, in August this year, the port will start its operations, although with some limitations,” he said during a press briefing at his office. He said that the Kuala Tanjung port would fully operate as an international hub within the next two years. The Kuala Tanjung Port is to be developed in several phases — first, the construction of a multipurpose terminal; second, the development of an industrial area; and, third, the development of a container port and residential area. The first phase of the project will cost about US$2.5 trillion (US$188.23 million). State-owned port operator Pelindio I has teamed up with the Netherlands-based Port of Rotterdam Authority and Dubai-based port operator DP World in building the integrated port, which will in total cost about Rp 34 trillion. Source: The Jakarta Post

Pelindo to modernize and expand Kuala Tanjung Port

State owned port operator Pelindo I said it will modernize and expand the port of Kuala Tanjung in North Sumatra to accommodate large vessels. The port of Kuala Tanjung in the regency of Batubara was originally built to serve the logistics for PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminum (Inalum). Pelindo said construction will start this year to be completed in 2018 and it will cost around Rp4 trillion. The port of Kuala Tanjung is strategically located to facilitate shipping in the busy commercial lane of Malacca strait. It could serve as a port of call mainly for cargo ships . So far large ships passing through the Malacca strait, called only at Singapore and Malaysian ports. Kuala Tanjung port would contribute to the government program of making the country a world maritime axis. President Director of Pelindo I Bambang Eka Cahyana said the port of Kuala Tanjung has the potential to become an international port as it has a deep port basin and with the growing industrial zone in the city. Bambang said PT Pelindo I wants to build an integrated port that could accommodate ultra large container vessels (ULCC). ULCC which has a capacity of around 18,270 Teus would need a port basin with a depth of at least 17 meters, he said. The port would also be linked with rail track for cargo transport, logistic park for storage, labeling and repacking facility and residential area for port and industrial workers.

Terminals outside Jakarta must be expanded, think-tank urges

Indonesia needs to develop Kuala Tanjung Port in North Sumatra and Bitung Port in North Sulawesi ahead of the start of the ASEAN single market next year, according to the Committee for the Expansion and Acceleration of Indonesian Economic Growth (KP3EI). “The country’s economic development acceleration should be based on maritime connectivity, and the government should boost economic growth outside Java Island,” a spokesman for the association said. “By making Bitung and Kuala Tanjung our main gateways, the government would not only evenly distribute economic activity but also help the implementation of the cabotage principle,” he said. Indonesia’s permanent representative to ASEAN, I Gede Ngurah Swajaya, said the country had completed a feasibility study for roro operation connecting Bitung and Santos in the Philippines. “We see great potential in operating vessels connecting Bitung with Santos as well as with Brunei and Malaysia to support ASEAN as the center of production and distribution,” Ngurah said. PT Pelabuhan Indonesia I (Pelindo I) plans to begin the construction of Kuala Tanjung Port in North Sumatra this year while Pelindo IV is currently expanding Bitung. [25/04/14]