TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) deputy minister Kartika Wirjoatmodjo on Monday spoke about the fate of the government’s plan to import used electric commuter line (KRL) train carriages, which was a subject of debate between state ministries a few months ago.

“We will await one more meeting session as this was a subject of pros and cons,” he said to journalists at the Senayan parliamentary headquarters on June 5.

According to the deputy minister, the Ministry of Industries had gone against the plan of importing used KRL trains to prioritize those with a certain amount of local component contents. Meanwhile, the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) had not recommended the import plan as it intends to help improve local railway manufacturer PT INKA (Industri Kereta Api).

Due to the aforementioned arguments, the SOEs Ministry proposed an Rp3 trillion state equity participation for INKA but believes it would not be enough as he believes city railway commuters urgently need the new trains.

“This is why we are looking for a middle ground, there’s an option for an immediate purchase, retrofitting for next year, and only in 2025 we will build a facility in the area of Banyuwangi,” said the SOEs deputy.

He also hopes that this year can see imports of 12 used KRL trainsets and said that if the import of used KRLs is approved within the next couple of weeks, then the process will take six months. That way, the train will be usable in early 2024.

"The option is that we propose to buy for early 2024, in 2024 we will retrofit, while waiting for INKA, 2025 behind all INKA," he said.

The SOEs deputy argues that this plan will enable INKA to produce commuter lines or KRL carriages in 2025. As for the discussion or meeting regarding the import of used KRL, it remains to be unclear.

AMELIA RAHIMA SARI

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