Pulau Baai Port's capacity to be increased

By Cepi Setiadi

State owned port operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia II (Persero) is targeting to increase the coal loading capacity of its Pulau Baai Port in Bengkulu.

Commercial and Business Development Director Saptono R Irianto told Petromindo.com on Tuesday that the loading capacity of Pulau Baai Port is about 7 million ton per year.

"We are targeting to increase the port?s capacity to up to 10 million ton per year starting in 2014," he said on the sidelines of the seminar titled ?2nd Unlocking Sumatra Coal Potential? held by Petromindo in Jakarta.

Saptono added that so far the total coal handled by the port has been about 3.6 million tons in the last two years with the composition of 60 percent for domestic market and 40 percent for exports. "As Sumatra produces more coal, so there will be more opportunity for Pulau Baai Port to develop," he said.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon