PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA), PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) or PT KAI, and PT Semen Baturaja Tbk (SMBR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the plan to Increase Coal Unloading Capacity in the Kertapati Area.The MOU was signed by Rafli Yandra, Director of Business Development of PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA), Rudi As Aturridha, Director of Business Development & Institutions of PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) and Muhammad Syafitri, Director of Operations of PT Semen Baturaja Tbk (SMBR) at the Signature Lounge SIG, Jakarta on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
Suhedi, Director of Operations & Production of PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA), Hadis Surya Palapa, Director of Commerce of PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), Donny Arsal, President Director of PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (SIG), Yosviandri, Director of Supply Chain of PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (SIG), Suherman Yahya, President Director of PT Semen Baturaja Tbk (SMBR), Rahmat Hidayat, Director of Finance & HR Function of PT Semen Baturaja Tbk (SMBR) and Fredi Firmansyah, President Director of PT Kereta Api Logistik also witnessed the signing of MOU.
The goal of this collaboration is to increase the coal unloading capacity in the Kertapati area, Palembang. Furthermore, this collaboration aims to maximize each company’s potential, while adhering with the principle of mutual benefit and good corporate governance.
Rafli Yandra, Director of Business Development of PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) stated that this synergy is part of PTBA's efforts to expand coal transportation capacity.
"This collaboration is a strategic move towards strengthening our logistics and infrastructure pillars. By improving logistics capacity, we can contribute more to delivering continuous energy to the country," said Rafli Yandra.
With 2.98 billion tons of coal reserves and 5.81 billion tons of resources, PTBA is one of Indonesia's largest coal wealth managers. Increasing logistics capacity is an important step toward accelerating the monetization of coal reserves and ensuring national energy security.
On the same day, Suherman Yahya, President Director of SMBR, stated that this collaboration is a strategic move towards BUMN synergy. “Semen Baturaja strongly supports this collaborative effort to strengthen the sustainability of energy raw material supply. This synergy improves operating efficiency and has a positive impact on the regional economy and national infrastructure development," he said.
KAI collaborates with PTBA and SMBR to increase coal transport capacity in Kertapati with a completion date of 2027. This is done considering the importance of developing coal and cement loading and unloading areas in the Palembang Divre III area to support national energy and infrastructure needs.
Didiek Hartantyo, President Director of KAI, stated that KAI recorded positive performance in freight transportation from January to September 2024, transporting 50,987,328 tons of goods, an 8% increase over the same period from January to September 2023 of 47,174,683 tons of goods.
Coal transportation accounts for 40,828,696 tons or 80% of KAI's total freight transportation. Freight transportation by train offers numerous benefits, including punctuality, safety, large capacity, free from illegal taxes, and management by professional human resources. Another advantage is that freight transportation by train may convey extremely massive loads. One carriage can transport 50 tons, or the equivalent of two container trucks. In fact, one series of coal transportation trains in southern Sumatra can haul 61 carriages, or 3,000 tons simultaneously. If transported by truck, it would require around 120 trucks.
"Transporting goods by train certainly supports more efficient logistical costs, reduces congestion and pollution and supports environmental sustainability," concluded Didiek.
