TEMPO.CO, Mataram - Investors from Qatar and Netherlands have expressed their interest in the development of Bandar Kayangan Port in North Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara. The new port is expected to have a capacity of accommodating 500 meters long ship with a total investment value of Rp 190 trillion (US$14.2 million).
Regional Representatives Council (DPD) deputy speaker Farouk Muhammad, from the West Nusa Tenggara electoral district said that the Qatari and Dutch investors expressed their interest during the promotion.
“We have conducted promotional activities, and investors from Qatar and Rotterdam have expressed their interest,” Farouk said on Wednesday, February 10, 2016.
The Bandar Kayangan port was selected as a global hub located in Indonesia’s Islands Sea Lanes (ALKI) II passing the Lombok Strait and the Makassar Strait, where Pertamina had planned to build its refinery.
“The project must be started in 2017. Russia and China had also expressed their interests,” Farouk added.
Earlier, Son Diamar, leader of the Kota Baru Global Hub Bandar Kayangan development team, who previously served as the expert staff for maritime affairs at the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) pitched a plan to build a port and an industrial area on a 1,800-hectare land.
“The development will not be financed by the State Budget,” Son Diamar said.
Bandar Kayangan is a new choice since the second world’s busiest port in Singapore had been overwhelmed to provide shipping services to Europe. The location was selected based on a recommendation given by maritime experts from Brussels.
Son Daiamar added that other cities, such as Batam, Kuala Tanjung in Medan and Kota Agung in Lampung and Mamuju in South Sulawesi were not selected because their depths were insufficient.
SUPRIYANTHO KHAFID