INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - State-owned company engaged in port services, PT Pelabuhan Indonesia III (Persero) or Pelindo III is currently under review to develop a port in Kendal which will be an alternative to the Port of Tanjung Emas in Semarang.

Corporate Secretary of Pelindo III, Faruq Hidayat said that Kendal distance with Semarang is not far adrift to attract the company to develop the port in the district of 1,002.23 km2.

In addition, the existence of Kendal Industrial Area which is worked on by the private sector is also an additional factor that makes Pelindo III seriously working on the port in Kendal.

Faruq stressed that Pelindo III will conduct a study to test the level of land subsidence or land subsidence.

"If the land subsidence is tolerable, we are ready (developing the port) because Kendal already has its hinterland (industrial area)," he explained on Thursday (19/10/2017).

According to Faruq, Pelindo III needs to find alternative ports to support Semarang, which each year has decreased the land surface of 17 cm.

Pelindo III must spend up to Rp250 billion every two years to cope with the decrease in the face of the land.

Faruq revealed that Pelindo III has discussed with the Government of Kendal Regency as the owner of Kendal Port.

If negotiations go smoothly, Pelindo III will at least prepare an investment of Rp250 billion to develop Kendal Port.

On the other hand, Pelindo III is also eyeing the development of ports in Jepara if the results of the port development study in Kendal are considered unfeasible.

In Jepara, the soil structure is more solid so there is no decrease in the face of the land. However, the distance between Jepara and Semarang which is further than that of Semarang-Kendal is also a consideration of Pelindo III.