Not Recommended Imports, PT KCI Asked To Optimize Existing KRL Facilities

JAKARTA - The government has asked PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI) to conduct a review or study of their operations and optimize existing facilities, following the not recommended option to import used KRL from Japan.

Deputy for Investment and Mining Coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs (Kemenko Marves) Septian Hario Seto said this was conveyed after the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs received a report on the results of a review by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) regarding the plan to import a former KRL from Japan.

"Yesterday we had a meeting echelon I to discuss this issue and we asked PT KCI to review their current operations and optimize existing facilities," he said, quoting Antara.

Seto mengungkapkan, pemerintah juga meminta dilakukan retrofit yakni penggantian atau update update teknologi atau fitur baru pada rangkaian train lama atas sarana yang ada saat ini atau sarana yang akan pensiun.

"So, first, review the pattern of operations to be optimized again. And second, review of the maintenance system guarantees the safety and reliability of facilities, especially in technology that is indeed old," he said again.

On the other hand, Seto also requested that orders for retrofitting be made earlier.

He compared that the procurement through imports and retrofitting will both take time. Both import and retrofitting options, he said, will only be seen in 2024 because imports of trainsets will arrive gradually.

"So if this retrofit can be ordered from now on, we should be able to see some of these retrofitting results coming," he said.

Furthermore, Seto emphasized the importance of planning in the procurement of KRL. He emphasized that better and more mature planning is needed.

He also ensured that later the retrofitting process and the procurement of new trains would be carried out in parallel in order to maintain the sustainability of services for the public.

So far, the government has not recommended the procurement of used KRL through imports. The option of retrofitting and procurement of new domestically produced trains is still the main thing.

"So far (So far) we will stick to the recommendations from BPKP. But later maybe the plan will be held a meeting chaired by the Coordinating Minister (Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan) directly related to the retrofitting plan and optimizing its operating pattern. Maybe next week," said Seto as well.