KSOP Issues 15 Coastline Utilization Permits For IKN

Map of the location of the coastline utilization permit issued by KSOP Balikpapan. (ANTARA/noni servants)

BALIKPAPAN - Balikpapan Port Authority and Port Authority (KSOP) Office, East Kalimantan has issued a beachfront utilization permit related to the construction of the State Capital (IKN) for 15 business entities, until April 2023.

"There are still three more who are in the process," said Head of the Safety Division of Sailing Dimyati in Balikpapan as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, May 5.

Most of the utilization is on the southern side of Balikpapan Bay or in the North Penajam Paser section. Dimyati explained that obtaining permits to utilize the coastline also requires recommendations from the local government where the requested location exists. In this case, it also means that the North Penajam Paser Regency Government needs recommendations.

"Because later it will have something to do with infrastructure such as roads, as well as with other businesses such as loading and unloading services at the port," explained Dimyati.

The use of the coastline, or simply called a ship dock or dock and port, by the 15 companies is mainly used to serve ships transporting building materials and other logistics for the Nusantara State Capital (IKN) project.

Ports up to that much are possible due to limited water depth on the coastline, which is a maximum of four meters. With that depth, the maximum that can dock is a ship with a draft (ship body under the water surface when loading a maximum of three meters).

"The only thing that can be effective and efficient with a draft of three meters is a 120-foot pontoon," explained Dimyati.

Meanwhile, some pontoons are up to 300 feet in size but with deeper drafts, so they cannot dock in these ports. So by itself, more pontoons are needed, and then more ports to ensure the IKN development target is achieved.

By 2024, it is targeted that the state palaces and offices of at least five ministries plus the TNI-Polri headquarters will already be established in IKN, as well as housing for civil, civil or military servants.

Some building materials must be imported from other areas because they are not found in the desired quality or in the required amount in East Kalimantan.

Mount rock for the foundation, for example, or gravel for a mixture of concrete, the best that is believed in East Kalimantan are rocks and pebbles from rock mountains in Central Sulawesi.

Therefore, he said the building materials were imported from the province. Every concrete-ready-use company (ready mix) in Balikpapan usually brings tons of rock and gravel with pontoons to Balikpapan. That number is even more with this IKN.