TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) must pay a fine or demurrage of Rp350 billion for halting 490,000 tons of imported rice at the ports of Tanjung Priok, Jakarta and Tanjung Perak, Surabaya. Bulog president director Bayu Krisnamurthi said the rice containers could not be unloaded due to various factors, one of which was the weather.

Claiming that demurrage is normal for imports, Bayu said the delay was caused by various factors, one of which was ship delays. This has often resulted in a one-day delay in unloading from the original schedule of three to five days.

There are also weather factors such as rain and public holidays, he said, adding that Bulog is negotiating with the ports to overcome the demurrage.

Bayu denied that the delay was due to a change in policy by the National Food Agency (Bapanas), which now requires the use of containers for imports. "That's not true. Who told you that?" he said when met at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta, Thursday, June 20.

Bayu said the demurrage due to delays in unloading would not affect the balance sheet because Bulog always provides a reserve allocation when importing rice.

Likewise, Bapanas head Arief Prasetyo Adi said that demurrage due to delays in picking up or unloading goods at ports is a common occurrence in the import-export business.

Speaking after attending a working meeting with the DPR's Commission IV on Thursday, as reported by Antara, Arief said that factors that can contribute to delays in loading and unloading are taken into account in business-to-business calculations between companies. In this case, he said, Bapanas only commissioned Bulog to ensure the availability of food supplies, especially government food reserves.

HAN REVANDA PUTRA

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