The construction of the first phase of the Kalibaru Port, or New Priok, officially began late this month with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono leading ground-breaking ceremonies at the Nusantara Pura II passenger terminal in Tanjung Priok Port, North Jakarta.
The building of New Priok, set to become the country’s largest industrial port, is expected to improve the national logistics system and bolster the country’s global competitiveness, according to a report by Berita Jakarta, the official website of Jakarta’s provincial government.
“If we utilize this momentous occasion well, we might see stronger and more equal economic development in the next five to ten years,” the President said in a speech given at the launching ceremony.
R.J. Lino, president director of state-owned port operator Pelindo II, or Indonesia Port Corporation, said phase one of the New Priok Terminal consists of three container terminals and two gasoline terminals to be built on 192 hectares of land.
The terminal will have a total container handling capacity of 4.5 million 20-foot-equivalent units and gasoline processing capacity of 9.4 million cubic meters.
“We are serious [about] investing money worth IDR22.66 trillion (US$2.47 billion) for the construction of New Priok phase 1, out of a total investment value of as much as $4 billion for phase 1 and phase 2. The project began December 2012 and is slated to operate in 2014,” explained Lino.
Meanwhile, Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo said the city government plans to mediate in a land dispute between Pelindo and local residents who are opposing the building of an access road leading to the Tanjung Priok Port because it would cut through a sacred graveyard.
Photo courtesy of Berita Jakarta
