Regarding KRL Imports, The Minister Of Industry Explains Three Things That Are Considerations Between Needs And Local Products

Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita. Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said there are three things that are considered to maintain a balance between the needs of public transportation and the domestic industry. Especially in the procurement of electric rail carriages (KRL).

Therefore, the planning of train needs must be more structured and systematic, so that the needs can be prepared by the domestic industry.

The three are, the use of domestic industry, the creation of labor absorption if the policy taken is retrofitting, namely the addition of technology or new features in the old system. Finally, that is how to maintain public transportation.

According to Agus, the importation of trains is still in the policy options that will be taken by the government, although it is not a priority.

"Importation is still in the option, although it is not a priority (apart from used goods). Policies can be in the form of backscattering or a combination of retrovitation and importation," Agus said quoting Antara.

It is known that the Directorate General of Railways (DJKA) of the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) supports the rejuvenation of electric rail facilities (KRL) which is being carried out by PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI) because train facilities will be retired.

This year there are 10 series of KRL Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi (Jabodetabek) who will retire.

This support was conveyed in the form of a technical recommendation letter issued by the Director General of Railways dated December 19, 2022.

Apart from being driven by the facility age factor, the Ministry of Transportation also noted that procurement needs arose to accommodate passenger growth.

KCI itself has submitted to have sent a letter requesting import of a 28-year-old KRL from Japan since September 2022 to the Ministry of Trade.

However, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Industry, Dody Widodo, revealed that Indonesia does not need to import KRL carriages because the national rail industry is able to produce domestic train needs.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan immediately sent the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) to conduct an audit of the imports of the used electric train (KRL).

Luhut emphasized that he did not want to repeat the mistakes of imported used goods in the past. He also asked that there be more detailed plans so that the state does not continue to import.