PT Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk or PTBA inaugurated new jetty on Tarahan Port in Bandar Lampung. The jetty capacity was upgraded to 25 million tons per year with capacity up to 210,000 DWT (Capesize). The inauguration was signed by Minister of Transportation (Ignatius Jonan) at Tarahan, Bandar Lampung on Wednesday, 2015 June 10th.
Previously, Tarahan Port only has two jetties, one with 80,000 DWT (Panamax) and one with 10,000 DWT (barge) berthing capacity. With the new 210,000 DWT jetty, currently Tarahan port has 3 jetties that can be operated simultaneously.
Besides capacity upgrade in Tarahan Port, there was additional ship loader with 6,000 ton per hours. A ship with 210,000 DWT can be fully loaded within 35 hours or less than 3 days, a short period for big vessel.
Two units of loading facility for coal unloading from railways to ship was installed. Since the two units are operated, Tarahan Port can serve coal unloading from 4 train wagons at once. In a tirp, 5 tons coal from Tanjung Enim was being transported on 60 train wagons to Tarahan Port.
Additional berthing capacity in Tarahan has increased PTBA sales competitive advantage in domestic market and Australia major producers, where coal buyers can be served by PTBA with large-capacity vessels to improve efficiency in coal transportation costs.
To guarantee operational reliability and smooth service, Tarahan Port was already equipped with continues and integrated handling system with the most advanced technology, and supported with 2 x 8 Megawatts own power plant to avoid limited supply of electricity. Furthermore, Tarahan Port already equipped with ports certification, the ISPS Code.
Meanwhile, PTBA also perform other strategic steps to strengthen its position in the world market. Efficiency through optimization in mining operations with careful planning and mining equipment using electricity produced from PTBA own power plant. The Tanjung Enim 3 x 10 Megawatts power plant to support mining operations and 2 x 8 Megawatts power plant in Port Tarahan to ensure excellent port operations. In addition, PTBA applied branding system for its products to serve various market demands.
Thus, the existence of a new large capacity jetty and reliability of infrastructure to support port operations has given efficiency and guarantee to continuity, timeliness and accuracy of PTBA products to serve the consumers demand. This achievement has put PTBA as one of the most competitive coal producer in global market crisis that hit the world coal producers in tougher market.
