Choose New KRL Imports From China, KCI: The Price Is Cheaper Than Japan

JAKARTA - PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia or KCI decided to import a series of trains or new KRL trainers from a company from China, CRRC Sifang Co.Ltd compared to Japan. One of the reasons is because the price offered by China is cheaper.

For your information, KCI will officially import three new KRL series with KCI-SFC120-V type from a manufacturer from China, CRRC Sifang Co., Ltd with an investment value of around Rp783 billion.

KCI Vice President Corporate Secretary, Anne Purba said that her party had compared the prices of trains produced by Japanese company J-TREC; Chinese company CRRC Sifang Co.Ltd and also from two South Korean companies (South Korea), namely Wojin and Dawonsys.

As a result, Anna continued, the price of KRL produced by Chinese company CRRC Sifang is much cheaper than the other three companies.

"So that when we received all the proposals (from the countries), CRRC was indeed the most competitive of the price," he said at a press conference at the KCI office, Jakarta, Tuesday, February 6.

For your information, the import costs of three new KRLs from China reached Rp783 billion. Meanwhile, in September 2023, Anne said PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) or KAI as the parent of KCI conveyed that the cost of importing KRL from Japan was Rp676.8 billion.

Furthermore, Anne said, the price offered in the initial proposal increased one month later, namely in October 2023. However, Anne was reluctant to mention how much the increase in costs set by Japan.

After comparing the prices offered by Japan and Korea, continued Anne, KCI also chose to import three new KRL from a Chinese company, CRRC Sifang because the price was cheaper. In addition, she said, it should not be forced from Japan.

"It doesn't mean that Japan must be forced. But at that time, when we reviewed both the cost and the others, we did get a proposal from Japan," he said.