The Port Enterprise Agency (BUP) of the Batam Indonesia Authority plans to elevate the Batu Ampar container port into an international transshipment hub with a substantial investment of IDR 3.8 trillion until 2025. In 2023, Batu Ampar Port contributed 76% to the total exports of the Riau Islands, reaching USD 8.7 billion, witnessing an eight percent increase in cargo handling to 624,061 TEUs. Dendi Gustinandar, the Director of BUP Batam, recognizes Batu Ampar's strategic location in the Malacca Strait, positioning it to become an international transshipment port, fostering economic growth in Indonesia. Its proximity to Singapore makes it a significant economic growth center, surpassing the national average with a 6.84% economic growth in 2022. The development of the Batu Ampar container port is a collaborative effort between BP Batam and PT Industrial Area Development (persero) Batam. The objective is to establish the area as an international transshipment port, leveraging global trade routes in the Malacca Strait.

The development will occur in three phases. The first phase, initiated on November 1, 2023, until July 2025, aims to establish Batu Ampar Terminal as a domestic-scale cargo port. The second phase, starting in August 2025, involves Batu Ampar Terminal as a direct call terminal, focusing on infrastructure expansion, dredging the northern dock basin, and adding Quay Crane, HMC, RTG, and Terminal Truck. The final phase envisions Batu Ampar Terminal as an international transshipment port or international logistics hub. This includes expanding the stacking yard, extending the dock, and enhancing cargo handling equipment for improved service efficiency. The total investment of IDR 3.8 trillion will equip Batu Ampar Terminal with 11 Quay Cranes, 2 HMC, 27 RTG, and 56 Terminal Trucks, capable of accommodating 1.6 million TEUs of containers. Batu Ampar's potential is evident in its contribution of 79.3% to the total exports of the Batam region. Positioned strategically along the world's busiest shipping route, the Malacca Strait, Batam holds the potential to become an international logistics hub. Routine evaluations by BP Batam have shown a significant improvement in Batu Ampar Terminal's management, with a 44% increase in ship berthing time due to the utilization of STS Cranes and HMC. Dendi emphasizes that this development is a crucial step in supporting Batam's and Indonesia's economy, calling for support from all stakeholders to enhance Batu Ampar Port, fostering faster economic growth in Batam and Indonesia at large.

Source: https://ulasan.co/bup-bp-batam-investasi-rp3-8-triliun-kembangkan-pelabuhan-peti-kemas-batu-ampar/