Kodja Bahari to compete with China's CSIC for Pertamina tankers

State-owned shipbuilding company PT Dok & Perkapalan Kodja Bahari said it is confident it can compete well with China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) in a Pertamina tender for the procurement of 12 tankers, Asia Pulse reported Monday.

The 12 tankers needed by the state-owned oil and gas company are valued at US$400 million.

Suyoto, the operation director of Kodja Bahari, said it is impossible that CSIC is in a better position to offer a lower price than local shipbuilding companies.

Suyoto made the comments after a statement was released by the Chinese consortium, threatening to sue Pertamina if it is not fair in deciding the winner of the international tender.

CSIC agent in Indonesia PT Puradika Tradaship Universal said earlier that the Indonesian government has taken steps to ensure that Kodja Bahari wins the tender by seeking a soft loan.

A Puradika executive said a soft loan may not be used in an international tender.

Suyoto told Kodja Bahari that whoever the winner is not important, as long as the tankers are built in Indonesian dockyards.

From 1983 to 2000, Kodja Bahari built 28 tankers for Pertamina with measures ranging from 1,500 DWT to 6,500 DWT. (*)