REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The container port in Kalibaru, North Jakarta, on completion will smoothen the distribution of logistics abroad and across the country, Vice President Jusuf Kalla stated.
He made the statement while conducting an impromptu visit to inspect the progress of the port's development here on Monday.
He lauded the progress of the development of the first phase of the port, which is the extension of the current Tanjung Priok port.
"This facility will help to ease the distribution of national logistics. If we can finish it quickly, we will not need Singapore anymore (as a transit port)," he stated.
He noted that the unloading process at Tanjung Priok port takes a significant amount of time, and so, some ships use Singapore for transit.
"In Singapore, it takes only one or two days for the unloading process, but here (in Tanjung Priok), it takes seven days. We take more time as compared to Singapore as our facilities are still inadequate," he remarked.
Vice President Kalla lauded the progress of the construction, which is running ahead of schedule.
"This is the first time that the first phase of a port development project is being carried out faster than the schedule. Hopefully, the first phase of the project, which covers 800 square meters, will be completed," he stated.
The Kalibaru container port is being built over the sea and covers an area of 32 hectares, with a capacity 20 times larger than the present port of Tanjung Priok.
On completion, the port is expected to be the biggest in Southeast Asia.
The first phase of the development project covers three terminals each capable of accommodating 4.5 million TEUS containers, or totally 12.5 million TEUs.
The second phase of the project consisting of four terminals will be able to accommodate up to two million TEUs each, or totally eight million TEUs.
Total investment for the first phase reaches Rp25 trillion and covers an area of 230 hectares.