Govt to build large scale coal terminals

By Rikordias D. Siahaan

Amid the plan by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to limit the country?s coal export gates, the Ministry of Transportation has revealed its plan to build four large coal terminals in Kalimantan and South Sumatera.

?Actually we have made the blueprint to develop coal terminals in Kalimantan and South Sumatera,? said Adolf Richard Tambunan, Director for Port and Dredging at the Ministry of Transportation to Petromindo on Tuesday.

Adolf said each port could have a handling capacity as large as 100 million tons per annum. Two of the ports will be built at East Kalimantan, one in South Kalimantan, and one in South Sumatera (near Bangka Belitung).

?The plan currently is being consulted to determine their economic feasibility, detailed location and project structure?, Adolf added.

Adolf argued by using dedicated large ports, economies of scale of the country?s coal export activities can be achieved, compared to current applied of barge-to-ship method.

Adolf mentioned the plan, when it is ready to be tendered, will have three options of development scheme: Public Private Partnership, State budget-Financed and private developed (with concession scheme).

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak