Increase Coal Unloading Capacity in Palembang, KAI Taps PTBA and Semen Baturaja

Train KAI Batu Bara (Photo: KAI)

JAKARTA - PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) or PT KAI is collaborating with PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) and PT Semen Baturaja Tbk (SMBR) regarding plans to increase coal loading capacity in Kertapati, Palembang until 2027.

This collaboration was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Rafli Yandra, Director of Business Development of PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA); Rudi Asaturridha, Director of Business & Institutional Development of PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero); and Muhammad Syafitri, Director of Operations of PT Semen Baturaja Tbk (SMBR).

KAI President Director Didiek Hartantyo said this collaboration aims to increase the capacity of coal unloading in the Kertapati area, Palembang.

In addition, he continued, this collaboration is also to maximize the potential of each company, with the principle of mutual benefit and in accordance with good corporate governance.

"KAI collaborates with PTBA and SMBR to increase coal transport capacity in Kertapati with a completion target by 2027. This is done considering the importance of developing coal and cement loading and unloading areas in the Palembang III Divre area to support energy needs and national infrastructure," he said in an official statement, Wednesday, October 23.

Meanwhile, Director of Business Development of PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) Rafli Yandra said that this synergy is part of PTBA's efforts to increase coal transportation capacity.

This cooperation is a strategic step for us to strengthen logistics and infrastructure pillars. Through increasing logistics capacity, we can contribute more in providing energy without stopping for the country," said Rafli Yandra.

With coal reserves of 2.98 billion tons and 5.81 billion tons of resources, PTBA is one of the largest coal wealth managers in Indonesia. Increasing logistics capacity is an important step in accelerating the monetization of coal reserves and maintaining national energy security.

On the same occasion, SMBR President Director Suherman Yahya said that this collaboration is a strategic step in synergy between SOEs.

Semen Baturaja is very supportive of this collaboration in order to strengthen the sustainability of the supply of energy raw materials. This synergy also contributes to operational efficiency and has a positive impact on the regional economy and national infrastructure development," he said.

For your information, KAI recorded a positive performance on goods transportation during the period January to September 2024, where KAI carried 50,987,328 tons of goods, an increase of 8 percent compared to the same period from January to September 2023 as many as 47,174,683 tons of goods.

Coal transportation dominates with a total of 40,828,696 tons or 80 percent of the total KAI freight transport. Train freight transportation has various advantages such as timeliness, security, large capacity, free of illegal levies, and managed by professional human resources.

Another advantage is that rail transportation can carry a very large capacity. One carriage can carry 50 tons or the size of 2 container trucks. In fact, a series of coal transport trains in southern Sumatra can pull 61 carriages or 3,000 tons at once. If the truck is transported, there are approximately 120 trucks.