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Bukit Asam Strengthens the Acceleration of Coal Transport Project
The Ministry of Transportation shows its supports to the commitment of PT Bukit Asam Tbk, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), and PT PLN (Persero) in accelerating the development of coal transportation projects to improve national electricity security during a field visit by the Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi to Perajen Pier, Banyuasin, South Sumatra, Thursday (March 31, 2022).
"We appreciate the initiatives and synergies of Bukit Asam, KAI, and PLN to ensure better and faster transportation connectivity to mining areas. We as regulators will fully support it," said Budi Karya.
Furthermore, Bukit Asam, KAI, and PLN are currently developing two coal transportation projects, namely the Tanjung Enim - Keramasan (Palembang) railway project, which is expected to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2023, and the Tanjung Enim - Perajen jetty railway project, which is expected to be operational in 2026.
"For Perajen Pier, we would later propose this project to become a national strategic project," he added.
On the same occasion, President Director of Bukit Asam Arsal Ismail explained, end-to-end coal from the Bukit Asam mine in Central Banko will be distributed to Perajen Pier with a carrying capacity of 20 million tons/year.
"This facility will later be used to support the synergy cooperation of SOEs in the coal supply chain to improve national electricity security. The signing of the Head of Agreement was carried out by Bukit Asam, KAI, PLN on February 16, 2022," he said.
Meanwhile, Bukit Asam also supports the development of the Keramasan pier project of KAI. Bukit Asam will build a Train Loading Station (TLS) along with a Coal Handling Facility (CHF). With a capacity of 20 million tons/year, this project will supports the long-term supply of Bukit Asam coal to PLN.
"We hope that our synergy would provide great benefits to the nation and state, especially in South Sumatra. We would also ask for support from the Ministry of Transportation and related parties to accelerate these projects, so that the state will received its benefits soon," concluded Arsal.
