Japan offers to use local content to develop bullet train
Jumat, 10 Juli 2015 20:32 WIB | 1.708 Views
Sofjan Wanandi. (ANTARA)
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Japan has offered to use local Indonesian content with regard to the countrys plan to develop a bullet train service.
"They have given the government their word to use local Indonesian content," Sofjan Wanandi, the deputy chairman of Vice President M. Jusuf Kallas team of experts, said at the vice presidents office here on Friday.
He added that Special Envoy to the Japanese Prime Minister Hiroto Izumi had met with Vice President Jusuf Kalla to discuss a number of economic issues on Friday, including the development of the bullet train and a coal-fired power plant in Batang, Central Java.
Japan also offered to transfer the bullet train technology to Indonesia, Wanandi affirmed.
"We must compare an apple with an apple. As the development of the service needs to begin in 2016, the decision must be made this year to make up for the long time needed to make preparations," he stated, adding that the government plans to conduct the groundbreaking ceremony for the first bullet train project in 2016.
The train will serve the Jakarta-Bandung route, with the journey expected to take some 30 minutes, and the project, expected to be completed before 2019, will cost Rp60 trillion.
According to the chairman of the team of experts, the fast train service is expected to reduce travel time and bring down logistics costs.
Moreover, he emphasized that the conventional train service operated by state-owned company PT KAI will continue to be functional.
So far, two countries, Japan and China, have submitted proposals for cooperation in the development of the fast train service, Wanandi pointed out.
"Besides Japan and China, France has also expressed interest but has yet to submit a proposal. We will invite them, as well," he noted.
Indonesia plans to develop the fast train service to boost intercity connectivity.
Japan had given a grant worth US$15 million for the feasibility study of the project during the government of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
(Uu.B019/H-YH/INE/KR-BSR)
Japan offers to use local content to develop bullet train - ANTARA News
Indonesia to invite French investors to cooperate in railway project
Rabu, 15 Juli 2015 22:04 WIB | 484 Views
Andrinof Chaniago. (ANTARA/Sigid Kurniawan)
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government will invite French investors to explore opportunities to establish cooperation in the high-speed railway line project to connect Jakarta and Bandung (West Java).
"This opportunity is open for all investors," Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Planning and Development Board (Bappenas) Andrinof A. Chaniago said here on Tuesday night.
France has a mode of fast trains named Train Grande Vitesse that connects the capital city of Paris with other cities in the country and with towns in neighboring countries such as Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland.
In addition, Chaniago stated that the government has opened greater opportunities for investors who wish to work together to build this mode of transportation for the upper and middle class.
After the investors carry out a feasibility study, the government will review them to determine a partner for the project.
So far, Japan and China have expressed serious interest to the government to work on this project.
Japan has even completed the first phase of its feasibility study, estimating that a total investment of Rp60 trillion will be needed for this project.
Moreover, Chinese investors will soon complete the feasibility study for this project.
According to the Bappenas chief, a special team will be established by the government to assess the investors feasibility studies.
Based on the study carried out by Japanese investors, this fast train project could shorten the time taken to travel from Jakarta to Bandung to 34 minutes from the current duration of two to three hours.
Furthermore, Japanese investors are planning to conduct their feasibility study in three phases at a total cost of US$15 billion.
In a meeting at the Presidential Palace on July 13, Minister of Transportation Ignatius Jonan said that the government was still reviewing the alignment and the start and end points of this high-speed railway line project.
(Uu.KR-LWA/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Indonesia to invite French investors to cooperate in railway project - ANTARA News