Opening Opportunities for Private Sector to Construct Coal Port

Opening Opportunities for Private Sector to Construct Coal Port

JAKARTA – The government is finalizing the policy to assign 14 coal export ports in Indonesia. Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ministry and Trade Ministry will immediately issue mutual decree (SKB) consisting of the list of coal export ports.

One of 14 ports whose locations are assigned is in Muara Berau, Berau Regency, East Kalimantan. In the near future, the government will assign the other 13 locations. Seven of which will be in Sumatra and the other six will be in Kalimantan.

“We will develop a new port in Berau with complete facilities. Even, motor vessels with 100,000 tons load can enter the port,” Paul Lubis, ESDM Ministry’s Mineral and Coal Directorate General Secretary, told KONTAN on Wednesday (11/19).

Until now, the government has not assigned the firms which will construct or operate the new port in Muara Berau. One thing for sure, the government will open opportunities for private sector interested in making investment at port service sector. The required investment may be more than USD 100 million.

All coal firms which will sell their products to reign countries must go through the assigned ports even though the coal producers have had their own ports with complete facilities. “PT Berau Coal and all firms in similar locations must go through the similar port,” Paul asserted.

Meanwhile, Sukhyar, ESDM Ministry’s Mineral and Coal Director General, said the other 13 ports stated on ESDM Ministry and Trade Ministry SKB needs long process since development preparation takes time for location permit issuance and its development process.

Even though mining firms will be obligated to go through certain ports, the government does not intend to make a policy about berth facility usage service tariff, for example conveyor. “It is based on the business deal between coal employers and port operator. We do not need tariff standard,” Sukhyar said.

The coal export ports are assigned to lower illegal coal trade which is hard to be detected so far. Coal producers directly ship coal in the middle of sea and sell it to foreign countries. Consequently, in inflicts around USD 1.2-1.5 billion loss per year to the country. (Kontan)